Topan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Topan family

The surname Topan was first found in the North Riding of Yorkshire at Agelthorpe of Agglethorpe, a township, in the parish of Coverham, union of Leyburn, wapentake of Hang-West. "The monks of Coverham had land here, valued at £1. 6. 8. per annum; and the village, which is situated on the northern acclivity of the romantic Coverdale, is remarkable for its ancient Hall, now a farmhouse, which once belonged to the Topham family." 1

"Topsham [Devon] in all probability affords an instance of the preservation of a personal name from Saxon days, and is equivalent to ' Topa's ham.' In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries it was frequently called Apsom. It is Topeshant in ' Domesday.' " 2

Early History of the Topan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Topan research. Another 83 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1639, 1664, 1671, 1695, 1710, 1713, 1749, 1751 and 1820 are included under the topic Early Topan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Topan Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Topham, Topam, Toppam and others.

Early Notables of the Topan family

Distinguished members of the family include Edward Topham (1751-1820), English journalist, playwright, poet, and landowner from Wold Newton, Yorkshire; and Thomas Topham (c. 1710 - 1749), famous English strongman. Thomas Tompion (1639-1713), known as 'the father of English watchmaking,' is said to have been born at Northhill, Bedfordshire. "Tompion was...
Another 48 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Topan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Topan migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Topan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Thomas Topan, who arrived in Virginia in 1887 3

The Topan 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: Ut vivas vigila
Motto Translation: Watch that you may live.

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Worth, R.N., A History of Devonshire London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.G., 1895. Digital
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)