| ![Show Contents]() Lepers History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
England
Etymology of LepersWhat does the name Lepers mean? The Lepers surname is thought to have evolved independently from two distinct sources. Some instances of the name come from the Middle English "le pere," from the Old English "le-ap," meaning "a basket;" in which case the name was occupational for a basket maker. Other instances of the name come from the Old English "hle-apere," meaning a "dancer," "runner," or "courier," and the name would have been either occupational or nickname. Early Origins of the Lepers familyThe surname Lepers was first found in Warwickshire the first on record of the name appears to be Robert Lepere, a Knights Templar in Warwickshire in 1185. Later in Essex, Geoffrey Lepere was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls for 1221. Richard le Lepor was recorded in 1298. 1 The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included: Geoffrey le Lepere, Oxfordshire; Walter le Lepere, Buckinghamshire; and Robert Leper, Lincolnshire. In Yorkshire, Alicia Lepar was listed there in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379. William le Poure was found in the Close Rolls, 1 Edward I (during the first year of the reign of King Edward I.) 2 Early History of the Lepers familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lepers research. Another 59 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1200, 1295 and 1713 are included under the topic Early Lepers History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Lepers Spelling VariationsEndless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Leeper, Leaper, Leper, LePere, Lepere, Lepper, Leiper, Leyper, Peer, Pere, Peir and many more. Early Notables of the Lepers familyWilliam Peer (died 1713), English actor. He owes the survival of his name to a humorous mention of his career by Steele in the Guardian, No. 82. He...
Another 27 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Lepers Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Lepers RankingFrance, the name Lepers is the 3,130th most popular surname with an estimated 2,000 - 2,500 people with that name. 3 Migration of the Lepers familyTo escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Lepers or a variant listed above: Jno Leaper, who settled in Virginia in 1658; Robt Leeper, who arrived in Virginia in 1677; Andrew Leeper, who arrived in Virginia in 1747; John Leeper, who arrived in North Carolina in 1763.
- 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)
- http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
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