Harper (surname)
Harpers in this Wiki:
Origin
The story of the name Harper reaches back through Scottish history to the kingdom of Dalriada. It evolved as a name for a person who worked as a person who occupies the role of "harper." In ancient times the harper was considered an important figurehead whereby Brehon laws stated that the elegance and music of the harp "deserved" a noble status.
Spelling variations of this family name include: Harper, Harpur, Harpar, Harepur and others.
First found in Lennox, Scotland, where they were seated from early times.
Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: John Harper who was a resident of Virginia in 1607 and 1608. Another John settled in the same colony in 1642. Patrick Harper settled in Virginia in 1653. In Newfoundland, Anthony Harper, was a servant of Oderin, about 1730.
Harpers of Note
- Edward Harper (1941-), English composer
- James Harper (1795-1869), American publisher
- John Harper (1797-1875), American publisher
- Joseph Wesley Harper (1801-1870), American publisher
- Fletcher Harper (1806-1877), American publisher
- Jessica Harper (1949-), American actress
- Tess Harper (1950-), American actress
- Valerie Harper (1940-), American actress
