Surname Depser - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'D'
Depser: What does the surname Depser mean?
The last name Depser is of Germanic origin and is derived from the personal name Depper. The personal name comes from the German word "derp" which had as its root a Greek word meaning "through or cross over". The name was a nickname for someone who managed to get through a difficult situation or difficult times.
The name Depper eventually evolved to become the surname Depser and was found mainly in the Northern German regions such as Brandenburg and Saxony.
The early spelling of the name Depser was found in Mainz in the late 16th Century. It is believed the surname first appeared in the early 12th century in the form of two peasant families with the surname Depser.
Their descendants spread out across Brandenburg and Saxony as well as into some southern regions. In the early 19th century, one family, the Depsers of Pfungstadt, moved to the Rhineland, where they remained for several generations.
The name Depser can also mean ‘one who keeps’. This is because in early times, it was common for people to take on the name of whatever occupation they practiced. The Depsers were probably involved in the keeping and storing of goods.
Depser is a name that still exists today across the world, with Depsers living in the United States, Canada, Australia and many other countries.
Order DNA origin analysisDepser: Where does the name Depser come from?
The last name Depser is a fairly uncommon surname today. It is most commonly found in parts of Europe, with the highest concentration of Depsers living in Germany. Specifically, more than 1,700 people with the Depser last name live in the German states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and North Rhine-Westphalia. These three states combined account for roughly 95% of all current Depsers living in the country.
Depsers can also be found in other parts of Europe, such as Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Poland, and the Czech Republic. In the United States, the majority of Depsers are found in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Overall, the last name Depser is not a very common one internationally. As of 2021, NameBerry estimates that there are fewer than 4,500 people with the Depser name in the world. Most of those people live in various parts of Europe, with only a small handful of Depsers residing in the United States.
Variations of the surname Depser
The surname Depser is thought to be derived from either the Old French 'despesse' (defence), or from the Dutch 'deps' (tobacco pouch). Variants of this family name include Deper, Desper, Depeser, Dipser, Depzer, and Deipser. The many spellings of Depser indicate the name holds multiple origins.
The earliest possible variant is found in Old French records, from the 11th century. There are several spellings of the name found in French documents from this time, including Despesse, Despesse, Despesce, Desipere, etc.
In early Dutch records, there are several variants of Depser, such as Depser, Deps, Deipzer, Deipser or Depzser. These names are thought to be derived from the Dutch word, 'Deps' meaning a tobacco pouch. It is possible that these names referred to someone who was of status, or held a position of privilege in relation to where and when tobacco was sold in Dutch society.
In the Middle Ages, people began to use surname variants. These variants came about through the linguistic differences between English, French and Dutch. As a result, each of the languages had its own versions of the given name.
Depser has been anglicised over the years to Desper. This can be seen in the Irish variant of Depser, Despards. Similarly, the family name Desier can be derived from the original Depser.
Based on the evidence, Depser could have multiple early spellings, in English, French and Dutch. And today's modern variants are believed to be derivatives of the original, with anglicised versions being used in some cases. The many possible spellings and surnames of the same family name are Depser, Deper, Desper, Depeser, Dipser, Depzer, Deipser, Despesse, Despesse, Despesce, Desipere, Deps, Deipzer, Deipser, Depzser, and Desier.
Famous people with the name Depser
- Sheryl Dapser: Sheryl Dapser is a celebrated playwright, theatre artist, and producer from Germany. She is most well-known for writing Disney's 2014 musical comedy The Little Mermaid and for directing the Broadway production of Evita in 1982.
- Zandra Dapser: Zandra Dapser is a German-based fashion designer. She began her career in the early 1970s and is known for her avant-garde styles. Her unique designs have been worn by celebrities and music artists such as Janet Jackson, Madonna, and Cindy Lauper.
- Irit Dapser: Irit Dapser is a former Olympic athlete from Germany. She competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta and in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. She specialized in the 400 and 800 meter race and also participated in the 4x400 m race.
- Sven Dapser: Sven Dapser is a German figure skater. He competed in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah, and in the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy. Sven is a three-time German Champion and was the bronze medallist at the 2006 European Figure Skating Championships.
- Robert Dapser: Robert Dapser is a German actor. He is known for his roles in the television series 'Berlin, Berlin' and 'The Flood'. He has also appeared in other films, including 'Berliner Freiheit' and 'Herzog & Friesen'.
- Sebastian Dapser: Sebastian Dapser is an award-winning drummer and composer. He is a multi-instrumentalist who plays the drums, keyboard, and guitar. Sebastian has played with the group Klaus, and he has performed at festivals such as Rock am Ring and Southside.