Show ContentsCaspar History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Polish Caspar surname is of patronymic origin, it is a surname that was created from the first name of the father of the original bearer of the name. The Christian name Kaspar is of Old Germanic origin, deriving from the Persian word for "Treasurer." The name became popular as it had been ascribed by popular tradition in Europe to one of the three Magi.

Early Origins of the Caspar family

The surname Caspar was first found in Polesie, the largest province of Poland. It is inhabited by Ruthenians, called Polesians, of Ukrainian descent. The main towns are those of Brest Litovsk, Pinsk, Kobryn, Kamenets, Litovsk, and Luninets. It was in this province that the renowned Radziwills and Sapiehas held their vast estates. Wolczyn was the seat of the Czartoryski family. The earliest recorded instance of this surname found was of Johann Caspar listed in the in the "Regesta Episcoporum Constantiensium" in 1441 as being a chaplain at Schaffhausen, Germany. The Caspar surname became noted for its many branches in the region, some were elevated to the ranks of nobility as they grew in power and influence.

Early History of the Caspar family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Caspar research. Another 108 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1571, 1772, 1856 and 1859 are included under the topic Early Caspar History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Caspar Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Kaspor, Kasparek, Kaspar, Kasspair, Kasparik, Caspar, von Caspar, Casper, Caspergaard, Kasparski, Kasperski and many more.

Early Notables of the Caspar family

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

Caspar Ranking

In France, the name Caspar is the 3,369th most popular surname with an estimated 2,000 - 2,500 people with that name. 1


United States Caspar migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Caspar Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Hans Caspar, who arrived in Carolina in 1734 2
  • John Peter Caspar, aged 16, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1740 2
Caspar Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Philipp Caspar, who landed in Brazil in 1823 2
  • Johann Caspar, who landed in America in 1841 2
  • John Caspar, aged 45, who landed in Missouri in 1842 2
  • Mrs. Caspar, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 2
  • Georg Caspar, who arrived in Texas in 1854 2
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Caspar migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Caspar Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Franz Caspar, who landed in Quebec in 1850

New Zealand Caspar 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:

Caspar Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Richard Caspar, aged 37, a farm labourer, who arrived in New Plymouth aboard the ship "Halcione" in 1875 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Caspar (post 1700) +

  • Carl H Caspar, American politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Michigan 13th District in 1922
  • John Caspar Dreier (1906-1994), American diplomat, United States Ambassador to the Organization of American States (1951-1960)
  • Hans Caspar Escher (1775-1859), Swiss industrialist and co-founder of Escher Wyss AG
  • Carl Caspar Giers (1828-1877), German-born American photographer
  • Caspar Richter (1944-2023), German Chief Conductor of the Vereinigte Bühnen Wien for 23 years
  • Caspar Einem (1948-2021), Austrian politician and minister, a board member of Jetalliance
  • Caspar Pemberton Scott Bowden (1961-2015), British privacy advocate, formerly chief privacy adviser at Microsoft
  • Caspar Schütz (1540-1594), German historian
  • Caspar Voght (1752-1839), German merchant and social reformer
  • Caspar Phair (d. 1933), Canadian pioneer, one of Lillooet, British Columbia's first settlers


  1. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  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. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 12th December 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html


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