Draper History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The family name Draper is one of the oldest Anglo-Saxon names of Britain. It was originally a name for a person who worked as a maker or seller of woolen cloth. The surname Draper is derived from the Old French word drapier and the Anglo-French word draper, which both have this meaning. The word was recorded in Old English as early as 1376.

Early Origins of the Draper family

The surname Draper was first found in Lancashire where one of the first records of the family was Robert le Draper who was listed in the Pipe Rolls (1181-1182.) 1 Later the Subsidy Rolls, Henry le Draper was listed as holding estates in 1332 in the same county. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 lists Roger le Draper in Wiltshire and Auwred le Draper in Cambridgeshire. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 lists Johannes Drapour as a drapour at that time. 2

Early History of the Draper family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Draper research. Another 78 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1567, 1646, 1678, 1689, 1694 and 1772 are included under the topic Early Draper History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Draper Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Draper include Draper, Drapere, Draiper, Draeper, Drapar, Drapir, Drayper, Dreypar, Drapper, Drapier, Drabber, Drapber, Drabper, Drappar and many more.

Early Notables of the Draper family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

General Sir William Draper, Knight of the Bath

Draper World Ranking

In the United States, the name Draper is the 1,365^th most popular surname with an estimated 22,383 people with that name. 3 However, in Australia, the name Draper is ranked the 709^th most popular surname with an estimated 5,526 people with that name. 4 And in the United Kingdom, the name Draper is the 637^th popular surname with an estimated 10,329 people with that name. 5

Migration of the Draper family to Ireland

Some of the Draper family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 33 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Draper migration to the United States +

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:

Draper Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Henrie Draper, aged 14, who arrived in Virginia in 1621 aboard the ship "George" 6
Henry Draper, who landed in Virginia in 1623 6
Robert Draper, aged 16 who landed in Virginia in 1624 aboard the ship "Jacob" 6
Mr. Peter Draper, who left England and arrived in Maryland in 1634 aboard the ship "Ark and Dove" 6
Joseph Draper, aged 21, who arrived in Barbados aboard the ship "Falcon" in 1635 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Draper Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Elizabeth Draper, who landed in Virginia in 1701 6
Robert Draper, who landed in America in 1764 6

Draper Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Benjamin Draper, who landed in New York in 1841 6
John William Draper, who landed in New York, NY in 1842 6
George Draper, who landed in Mobile County, Ala in 1844 6
Hanna Draper, aged 40, who arrived in Mobile, Ala in 1851 6
Catherine Draper, aged 42, who landed in Mobile, Ala in 1851 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Draper Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Mr. Sidney C. Draper, (b. 1877), aged 26, Cornish clerk travelling aboard the ship "Campania" arriving at Ellis, Island New York on 10th October 1903 en route to New York, USA 8

Draper migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Draper Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Edward Draper, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
George Draper, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749
James Draper, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
Edward Draper, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
Mrs. Draper, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1778
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Draper Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Joel, Draper Sr., who landed in Canada in 1836
Jacob Draper, who arrived in Canada in 1836
James Draper, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1839

Draper migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Draper Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

Miss Sarah Draper, (Ingram, Watson, Ann), English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years , transported aboard the "Britannia III" on 18th July 1798, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9

Draper Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

George Draper, English convict from Middlesex, who was transported aboard the "Asia" on April 1st, 1822, settling in New South Wales, Australia 10
Joseph Draper, English convict from Cambridge, who was transported aboard the "Asia" on July 29th, 1823, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 11
Robert Draper, English convict from Essex, who was transported aboard the "Asia" on October 22nd, 1824, settling in New South Wales, Australia 12
Mathew Draper, a cooper, who arrived in Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania) sometime between 1825 and 1832
Mr. James Draper, English convict who was convicted in Hertford, Hertfordshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Exmouth" on 3rd March 1831, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 13
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Draper migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Draper Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Martha Draper, aged 30, a smith, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Aurora" in 1840
Sarah Draper, aged 28, a servant, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Aurora" in 1840
Miss Sarah Draper, (b. 1811), aged 28, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Oriental" arriving in Port Nicholson, Wellington, New Zealand on 31st January 1840 14
Benjamin Draper, aged 27, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Oliver Lang" in 1856
Ellen Draper, aged 23, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Oliver Lang" in 1856
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Draper migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 15

Draper Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Mr. Bartholmew Draper, (b. 1615), aged 20, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Anne and Elizabeth" arriving in Barbados in 1635 16
John Draper was banished to Barbados in 1654

Contemporary Notables of the name Draper (post 1700) +

David Draper (1942-2021), American bodybuilder, actor and author, born in Secaucus, New Jersey
Major-General William H. Jr. Draper (1894-1974), American Under-Secretary of the Army (1947-1949) 17
Major-General Warren Fales Draper (1883-1970), American Chief of the Public Health Branch (1944-1945) 18
Warren Fales Draper (1883-1970), U.S. Deputy Surgeon General and member of Eisenhower's staff during WWII
Robert Draper (b. 1959), American freelance writer, a correspondent for GQ
Ray Draper (1940-1982), American jazz musician
Polly Draper (b. 1956), American actress, writer, producer, and director
Charles Stark Draper (1901-1987), American engineer, eponym of Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, formerly part of MIT
Foy Draper (1911-1943), American athlete, winner of gold medal in 4x100 m relay at the 1936 Summer Olympics
John William Draper (1811-1882), English-born, American scientist, philosopher, physician, chemist, historian, and photographer
... (Another 7 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Draper family +

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. Dennis Draper, British Boy, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 19

HMS Royal Oak

Basil Henry Draper (d. 1939), British Leading Seaman with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 20

RMS Lusitania

Mr. Percy Draper, English Second Purser from England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 21

The Draper Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Vincit pepercit
Motto Translation: He conquered, he spared

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
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)
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Britannia
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Asia 1 voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1822 with 190 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1822
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Asia 1 voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1823 with 151 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1823
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Asia 1 voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1824 with 9 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1824
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th May 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/exmouth
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's. Retrieved 23rd September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, January 24) William Draper. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Draper/William_H._Jr./USA.html
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, January 24) Warren Draper. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Draper/Warren_Fales/USA.html
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/