Surname Jespers - Meaning and Origin
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Jespers: What does the surname Jespers mean?
The surname Jespers is derived from the personal name Jasper, which originated from the Latin “Gaspar” or “Gaspard” which means “keeper of the treasure” or “master of the treasury”. It was one of the Three Magi or Three Wise Men who visited Bethlehem bearing gifts. The name became popular in Europe after the crusades in the Middle Ages. The surname is considered to be a patronymic, meaning it is derived from the personal name of the original ancestor.
The Jespers surname encompasses a variety of spellings in different countries. In the UK, it can be spelled Jespers, Jespar, Jessop or Jessup. In France it is spelled Gaspard and Gasprd. In the Netherlands it is Jaspar, Jesper, Jespar and Jespr. In Germany and Scandinavia it is spelled Jesper, Jesspuch and in Italy it is written Giasparo and Gisparo.
The surname is primarily found in the Netherlands, France, Belgium, Germany, the United Kingdom and Italy. It is uncommon in the United States.
The Jespers surname may be found in different occupations and records such as court documents, marriage and birth records. The close relatives of the original ancestor may also have adopted the surname. It is also possible that the descendants of the original man named Jasper are not identified by his surname but by other names adopted after migrating to another country.
Overall, the surname Jespers is believed to be derived from the Latin name Gaspar as a patronymic surname, and is found in many countries across Europe and the United States. It is associated with an illustrious ancestor and can still be found amongst his descendants today.
Order DNA origin analysisJespers: Where does the name Jespers come from?
The last name Jespers is most commonly found today in the Flanders region of Belgium, as well as in the Netherlands and Germany. According to records, the earliest reference to the name was in the 12th century in the area which we now call Belgium, and it is believed that the name comes from the Latin and Dutch words for a trading or merchant, suggesting that the ancestors of modern Jespers were likely merchants.
The name can be seen in records as far back as the 16th century, with regular occurrences in records of the Flemish cities of Antwerp and Gent. In the modern age, the name is particularly common in the provinces of Antwerp and East Flanders, with recorded occurrences in cities such as Ghent, Bruges, and Antwerp.
The name has also spread overseas in recent decades, with documented cases of the surname in both Europe and North America, as well as some South American countries. The name is chiefly found in the Dutch-speaking countries, where it has become one of the most popular Flemish surnames.
Overall, the last name Jespers is most commonly found today in the Flanders region of Belgium and its bordering countries, as well as in some overseas communities. Despite its international spread today, the name has long been an integral part of the Flemish culture, and will remain so for many years to come.
Variations of the surname Jespers
The surname Jespers is of Dutch origin and is derived from the personal name Jasper. The variants of this surname include Jasper, Jaspers, Jespers, Jaspersen and Jaspersz. Special attention should be paid to Jaspersen and Jaspersz, because these are patronymic surnames, derived from the name of an ancestor's father.
In Dutch, the noun jasper is derived from two words, 'jas', meaning 'coating, cloak' and 'per', meaning 'pelt', 'skin'. The name Jasper is derived from this noun, and was used to describe a person who more often than not wore a fur coat.
Jespersen and Jespersz are simply two patronymic versions of the surname Jespers. The two forms are derived from the patronymic suffix '-sen' and the suffix '-sz'. '-Sz' is a patronymic suffix of Flemish and Dutch origin, and it is also a common suffix used in countries such as Denmark, Norway and Iceland. The suffixes are used to indicate that the person is the son or daughter of the original bearer of the surname.
Jespersen and Jespersz are also two of the most commonly-used spellings of the surname. However, this surname can also be spelt in a variety of other ways, including Jaspers, Jespersen and Jesperse. It is also known by other spellings such as Jeserse, Jassers, Jasperse, Jaszi and Jaxon.
Lastly, some other variants and surnames of the same origin as Jespers include Jasperson, Jaspersma, Jaspersons, Jasperszoon and Jasperszoonen. These variants and surnames are all derived from the surname Jespers and are used in various parts of the world.
Famous people with the name Jespers
- Maarten Jespers: Belgian artist and musician
- Erik Jespers: Belgian composer
- Björn Jespers: Belgian tennis player
- Luc Jespers: Belgian comic book author
- Magali Jespers: Belgian actress
- Laetitia Jespers: Belgian visual artist
- Jan Jespers: Danish actor
- Cor Jespers: Dutch actor
- Wilhelmina Jespers: Dutch film director
- Harmen Jespers: Dutch composer
- Tom Jespers: Dutch mixed media visual artist
- Paul Jespers: Luxembourgian actor
- Fred Jespers: Belgian surrealist painter
- Thijs Jespers: Belgian comics artist
- Huub Jespers: Belgian soccer player