Harper Name, Meaning, Origin, History, And Popularity

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Origin, Meaning, And History of Harper

The name Harper is of English origin and is derived from the Middle English word “harper” or “harpere,” meaning “someone who plays the harp.” A harp is a stringed musical instrument with numerous strings to produce different notes. Harper evolved as a surname in Scotland, England, and Ireland. It is also the Anglicized version of the German family name “harfer,” which means “one who plays the harp.”

During Medieval times, noblemen and members of the aristocratic class used to employ musicians in their households for entertainment. Harp players were the most popular to showcase their talent in large baronial halls. In the Bible and artwork, angels were frequently depicted as using harps for music. Therefore, harps are considered to have angelic qualities.

Harper is a gender-neutral name given to both boys and girls. The adorable name also has several variations across cultures and languages, such as Harpor, Harfer, Harpere, Harpur, and Harpour. Some common nicknames for the name include Arpey, Happy, Har, Harp, Harpy, and Harps.

The name Harper became popular as a first name in recent decades. It jumped from obscurity to popularity as a girl’s name towards the end of the decade.

The name also made an imprint on popular culture. In fiction, Harper has been used both as a surname and a given name. Joe Harper is a fictional character in the 1876 novel ‘The Adventures of Tom Sawyer’ by Mark Twain. Joe is depicted as Tom’s best friend, who assists him in every activity. Harper Avary is the surgeon and the grandfather of Jackson Avery in the American drama television series ‘Grey’s Anatomy.’ In the American sitcom, ‘Mama’s Family,’ we find the Harper family consisting of Ellen Harper, Naomi Harper, Thelma Harper, and Vint Harper. Several characters with the surname Harper appear in the American sitcom ‘Two And A Half Men’ such as Alan Harper, Charlie Harper, Evelyn Harper, and Jake Harper.

Harper

Meaning Old English - Harp player; Harp, Harpar, Harpo and Harpor are few variants of Harper

Gender Unisex

Origin English,Scottish,Irish

Names starting with H.. Ha.. Har.. Hea..

How To Pronounce Harper?

English

Famous People With The Name Harper

Harper LeeAmerican novelist best known for his novel To Kill A Mockingbird
Bryce HarperAmerican baseball player
Thelma HarperAmerican politician and the first African-American Senator
Valerie HarperAmerican actress best known for her role as Rhoda in The Mary Tylor Moore show

Names With Similar Sound As Harper

If you are a musical person, you will surely be in love with the flow of the name Harper. Here are some top choices for similar-sounding names as Harper.