Show ContentsKasper History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Kasper only became a surname in the late Middle ages. It comes from the personal name Kaspar, which was especially popular in central Europe up to the 18th century. It is thought to derive from the Persian "kaehbaed," or "khazana-dar," which mean "treasure bearer." The name is said to have belonged to one of the three Magi, whose supposed remains were taken from Constantinople to Cologne in the 12th century.

Early Origins of the Kasper family

The surname Kasper was first found in various parts of the Holy Roman Empire. An early recorded instance of the surname is of a Johann Caspar recorded as being a vicar in Schaffhausen, in 1441. Schaffhausen was a city-state, until joining the Swiss Confederation in 1501. Families of Caspersen were found in Holstein; Caspers, Kespers in Bavaria and the Rhineland; and Kaspareck in the Slavic East.

Early History of the Kasper family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kasper research. Another 71 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1571, 1699, 1724 and 1772 are included under the topic Early Kasper History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kasper Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Casper, Caspers, Kasper, Kaspar, Kespers and others.

Early Notables of the Kasper family

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

Kasper Ranking

In the United States, the name Kasper is the 4,267th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 1


Kasper migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Kasper Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Geo Friederich Kasper, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1747 2
Kasper Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Karel Kasper, who landed in Baltimore, Maryland in 1847 2
  • Emma Kasper, who arrived in Baltimore, Maryland in 1847 2
  • Rebecca Kasper, who arrived in Baltimore, Maryland in 1847 2
  • Johann Kasper, aged 62, who landed in Texas in 1854 2
  • Andreas Kasper, aged 39, who arrived in Texas in 1854 2
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Kasper Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • John Kasper, who arrived in Arkansas in 1903 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Kasper (post 1700) +

  • Nolan Kasper (b. 1989), American World Cup alpine ski racer
  • Lynne Rossetto Kasper, American food writer and radio journalist
  • Len Kasper (b. 1971), American play-by-play announcer for the Chicago Cubs (2005-)
  • Kevin Joseph Kasper (b. 1977), former American football wide receiver of the National Football League
  • Herbert Kasper (b. 1926), American fashion designer
  • Gail Kasper, American actress, host, executive producer, and writer of the late-night show Raw Reality With Gail Kasper
  • Degen Elizabeth Ellen Kasper (b. 1989), American beauty pageant holder, Miss Alaska Teen USA in 2006
  • Debbie Kasper, American Daytime Emmy Award nominated stand-up comedian and writer
  • Dave Kasper, retired American soccer player who played from 1983 to 1995 and manager who managed Duquesne Dukes from 1995 to 1997
  • Adam Kasper, American Grammy Award winning record producer and engineer
  • ... (Another 10 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bismarck
  • Erich Kasper (1919-1941), German Matrose who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 3
  • Ernst Kasper (1921-1941), German Matrose who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 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. Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details


Houseofnames.com on Facebook