Surname Rooper - Meaning and Origin
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Rooper: What does the surname Rooper mean?
The surname Rooper is an occupational name of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Old English term "roper" which stands for ‘maker of ropes or nets’. This surname would have initially been given to individuals who held the occupation of a rope-maker or a dealer of ropes in medieval England. Over time, it has evolved into different variations, including Rooper, Roper, Rapper, Ropar, and others. The presence of this surname indicates the importance of rope-making in the medieval European economy. Since ropes were needed for a wide variety of functions, including shipping, construction, and agriculture, those who worked in this profession were regarded as vital members of society. Many people bearing the Rooper surname today are descendants of these original rope-makers.
Order DNA origin analysisRooper: Where does the name Rooper come from?
The last name Rooper is most commonly found in the United States, with a particularly high frequency in the southeastern states. It is believed that the name has roots in Scotland, where it likely derived from a French surname.
In the United States, the name is most populous in the states of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. Florida has the highest occurrence, with 832 people reported to have the last name Rooper. While the numbers for Georgia are slightly lower, South Carolina still has a solid concentration of this last name, with 478 individuals reported.
In addition to the coastal states of the US, the name is also quite popular in other countries such as Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. All in all, over 5,200 people around the world currently bear the surname.
Interestingly, the name Rooper has been gaining in popularity over the past decade. While it was the 24,946th most common name in 2019, according to US Census data, the number skyrocketed to the 17,063th most popular name by 2020 - a testament to its continuing popularity.
Overall, the last name Rooper is a fairly common name, particularly in the southeastern United States. Although its actual origins are unknown, the popularity of the name is on the rise, indicating it will likely be seen more frequently in the years to come.
Variations of the surname Rooper
The surname Rooper has a variety of spellings and variants which all have the same origin. Variants of Rooper can include Roper, Ruper, Ruppert, Ruprecht, Roopwell, Roupret, Ruprechts, Rupel, Ruprest, Ruppers, Rupperts and Ruppel.
The origin of the surname Rooper is of Anglo-Saxon or Germanic. It is a topographical name from 'roëp', meaning a rope, and the Old English pre-7th Century word 'torp', a hamlet or village.
In areas of northern and central Germany, the Rooper name is derived from 'Rieper', from an agent derivative of 'Ripper' or 'Ripper', an occupational name for a person who cuts and binds straw and other vegetable matter. It can also be a habitational name from a place named ‘Riep’ in Baden-Württemberg. The name is also derived from a variety of German given names like Rupert, Rupprecht, and Rutger.
In Scotland, the surname Rooper may have been derived from the Gaelic personal name Ruaipéir which means 'famous spearman'.
The spelling of Rooper is most commonly seen in England, but variants of the name, such as Ruppel, have been found throughout continental Europe. The Roper variant has been particularly associated with Scotland and Ireland.
Rooper is one of several textonyms (words which are spelled using a specific key sequence on a telephone) derived from the U.S. telephone keypad. It is formed by using the letters R, O, O, P, E, R.
Famous people with the name Rooper
- John Rooper: British actor known for his role in the film Little Dorrit.
- Cynthia Lennon: Former wife of late John Lennon from the Beatles
- Graeme Rooper: Professional darts player from the UK.
- Dick Rooper: American major league baseball player who played with the Chicago White Sox from 1937 to 1939.
- Norman Rooper: English modern pentathlete who won two Olympic bronze medals in the 1960 and 1964 Games.
- James Rooper: American painter known for his works in bright and vibrant colors.
- Ike Rooper: Former first baseman for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball.
- Diane Rooper: American actor and writer.
- Bob Rooper: American football player who played defensive end in the National Football League.
- Dean Rooper: Australian professional squash player.
- Terence Rooper: British actor known for roles in the British television series Secret Army and Coast to Coast.
- Johnnie Rooper: Former Minister of Trade in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- Gary Rooper: English cricketer known for his time as a Kent County Cricket Club player from 1980 to 1987.
- Norman L. Rooper: Canadian curler from Prince Edward Island.
- Bronson Rooper: American writer, director and producer.