Show ContentsKeiper History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The German state of Bavaria is the ancestral home of the Keiper family. Keiper is a local name, first used as a surname for someone who lived in Nuremburg, where their name rose to prominence through their involvement in the social and cultural affairs of the area.

Early Origins of the Keiper family

The surname Keiper was first found in Nuremburg, where the name was an integral part of the feudal society which shaped modern European history. Many prominent branches of the family would strive to make this name renowned as they contributed to the social, economic and political affairs of the region.

Early History of the Keiper family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Keiper research. Another 53 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Keiper History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Keiper Spelling Variations

In the medieval era, many different cultural groups lived in the German states. There are thus many regional variations of German surnames from that era. Westphalians spoke Low German, which is similar to modern Dutch. Many German names carry suffixes that identify where they came from. Others have phrases attached that identify something about the original bearer. Other variations in German names resulted from the fact that medieval scribes worked without the aid of any spelling rules. The spelling variations of the name Keiper include Keypper, Keyper, Keyppen, Keyppel, Keyppele, Keyppeler, Kayper, Kaypper, Kayppel, Kayppele, Kayppeler, Kaiper, Kaipper, Kaippen, Kaippel, Kaippele, Kaippeler, Keiper, Keipper, Keippen, Keippel, Keippele, Keippeler, Keip, Keipher and many more.

Early Notables of the Keiper family

More information is included under the topic Early Keiper Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Keiper Ranking

In the United States, the name Keiper is the 14,864th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1


United States Keiper migration to the United States +

European migration to North America began in the mid-17th century and continued unabated until the mid-20th. Many Bavarians made the long trip to escape poverty or persecution based on their religious beliefs. The chance for tenant farmers to own their own land was also a major drawing card. They settled all across the United States in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. Many came to Canada also, settling in Ontario and the prairie provinces. Analysis of immigration records has shown some of the first Keipers to arrive in North America, and among them were:

Keiper Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Johann Keiper who, accompanied by his family, who arrived in America in 1853
  • Joh, IV Keiper, who arrived in America in 1853 2
Keiper Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Johann Keiper, who landed in America, in 1902
  • Caroline Keiper, aged 53, who immigrated to the United States, in 1909
  • Alice Gray Keiper, aged 60, who immigrated to Los Angeles,California, in 1910
  • Jakab Keiper, aged 18, who immigrated to America from Jankovci, Hungary, in 1910
  • Joseph M. Keiper, aged 47, who settled in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1922
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Keiper (post 1700) +

  • Edward S. Keiper, American politician, Member of Pennsylvania State House of Representatives from Dauphin County, 1897-1900 3


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  3. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 7) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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