From the historical and enchanting region of Austria emerged a multitude of noble families, including the distinguished Trapper family. Originally, the Austrian people were known only by a single name. The process by which hereditary surnames were adopted in Austria is extremely interesting. Surnames evolved during the Middle Ages when people began to assume an extra name to avoid confusion and to further identify themselves. Often they adopted names that were derived from nicknames. Nickname surnames were derived from an eke-name, or added name. They usually reflected the physical characteristics or attributes of the first person that used the name. The name Trapper is a nickname type of surname for an impish troublemaker having derived from the German word trappe, meaning rogue.
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Early Origins of the Trapper family
The surname Trapper was first found in the Austrian province of Styria, moving later to Tyrol, where the name became noted for its many branches with the region, each house acquiring a status and influence which was envied and enrolled by the princes of the region. They possessed their family seat Trappenburg in the region of Leutschbach since ancient times. In their later history the name became a power unto themselves and were elevated to the ranks of nobility as they grew into this most influential family. Chronicles first mention Hans Trapp of Stetbach in 1388, and Cuncz Trap of Wuerzburg in 1409.
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Early History of the Trapper family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Trapper research. Another 295 words (21 lines of text) covering the years 1300, 1655, 1691, 1709, 1762 and 1819 are included under the topic Early Trapper History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Trapper Spelling Variations
Many cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Trapper include Trapp, Trap, Trappe, Trapper, Traper, Trappl and many more.
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Early Notables of the Trapper family
More information is included under the topic Early Trapper Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Migration of the Trapper family
Austria was made a republic after the First World War. The Austro-Hungarian Empire was broken up by the Treaty of Versailles and many of its people found themselves in the new nation of Czechoslovakia. Many other Austrians and expatriate Austrians made their way to North America in the 20th century. Most landed in Philadelphia, later continuing on to the states of Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, New York, and Maryland. Some Austrian settlers also went to western Canada and Ontario. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Trapper or a variant listed above: Joseph Trapp, who settled in Philadelphia in 1859; and Heinrich Trappe, who settled in Texas in 1843.
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