Surname Peper - Meaning and Origin
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Peper: What does the surname Peper mean?
The surname Peper is of Dutch and North German origin, derived from Middle Dutch and Middle Low German term "peper". Its literal English translation is "pepper". The surname was likely a metonymic occupational name for a spice merchant, someone who traded in spices, specifically pepper, during the Middle Ages. Names that were derived from the common trades or occupations during the time period are quite common throughout Europe. As with many surnames, it might also be possible that the original bearers of the Peper surname lived in or near a house or establishment that was distinguished by the sign of a pepper. This was a common practice in medieval times when signboards were used outside houses to identify them. Thus, it's crucial to understand that surnames hold an important aspect in genealogical research, revealing a part of an individual's or a family's history, occupation, characteristics, or location.
Order DNA origin analysisPeper: Where does the name Peper come from?
The last name Peper is most commonly found in the Netherlands, where it is one of the most common last names. It is also found in Germany, although it is less frequent there, and further afield in some of the countries that have historically been settled by the Dutch, such as South Africa, Suriname, Indonesia, and the United States.
It is thought the name Peper may have been derived from the German word "pfeffer" or "peffer," which means pepper, or from the Dutch word for pepper, "paprika." It may also have a different root, as the Dutch family names which end in "er" often come from the river, place or field on which the person lived.
There are many variations on the spelling of Peper, such as Paeper, Pepper, Peperkamp and Papier, which can be found in various countries.
Today, some bearers of the last name Peper have chosen to retain the spelling, while others have changed or adapted it to better suit their language or culture. For example, in the United States, the spellings "Pepper" and "Papper" are more commonly seen.
Variations of the surname Peper
Peper is a surname of Dutch origin, which is derived from the occupation of the original bearer as a grower and seller of pepper or other spices. It is also a Dutch version of the French name Pepper.
Variants of the surname Peper include Peperzack, Peperhonig, Peperberg, Peperkamp, Pepperkamp, Peperman and Peperzaad. Spellings derived from the original Dutch version include Piper, Pipersz, Peperz, Peperze, and Pipesz.
The Dutch version of the surname often appears with a double letter in the spelling, such as Peperkees, Pippera, Prayer and Pipperens. Alternatively, some variants have appeared with a 'y' replacing an 'e' or 'i', such as Pypersz, Pyper, and Pyperz.
The surname has also been found spelled in a range of languages, such as Dutch and English. These include Pepper, Pepers, Peper, Peppers, Piper, and Papers.
In Latin, the surname is known as Piper, while in French and German, it may be spelled as Poivre or Pfeffer, respectively.
Surnames derived from the same origin include according to the Dictionary of German-Jewish Surnames, include the variant Peppersina, and the Jewish surname Piper.
There are also typographical errors in the spelling of the surname which include Pepperell, Peppere, Papperel, Pippur, and Pippar.
Famous people with the name Peper
- Herman Peper: A German novelist and screenwriter, best known for his works The Secret State (1962), Passing Shadow (1964), and The Survivor (1984).
- Gerrit Peper: A Dutch sculptor who rose to prominence with “De Blauwe Schuit” (The Blue Boat), now situated in the Noordbrabants museum in The Hague.
- Paul Peper: A Dutch composer, choral conductor, and pianist whose works span multiple genres.
- Klaus Peper: An award-winning German author and academic who specializes in intercultural communication.
- Ernie Peper: An American film and television actor best known for his roles in TV shows such as Hogan's Heroes, F-Troop, and Get Smart.
- Bernd Peper: An East German former swimmer who won gold medals for the 400-meter medley at the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 1964.
- Flin Peper: A Canadian chef and restaurateur, best known as the owner of The Irish Heather Gastropub in Vancouver.
- Johns Peper: A 19th-century English architect, known for his various rebuilds and restoration work on historic buildings in and around York, England.
- Kenneth Peper: An American data scientist, quantitative analyst, and professor whose published works focus on financial engineering.
- Karsten Peper: An Indonesian artist whose works have been featured in various solo and group exhibitions including the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum in Japan.