Pypers History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland

Etymology of Pypers

What does the name Pypers mean?

The roots of the ancient Scottish name Pypers are found among the people of a tribe known as the Picts. Pypers is a name for a person who played the bagpipes. "Anciently the name of Pyper was very frequent in Perth, and very Considerable Persons are called by that name in the Charters of the Religious Houses. About the time of the Reformation, the principal Families of that name changed it for Balneaves." 1

Early Origins of the Pypers family

The surname Pypers was first found in at Innerbundy in Aberdeenshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Obar Dheathain), a historic county, and present day Council Area of Aberdeen, located in the Grampian region of northeastern Scotland.

However, the family is not exclusively Scottish. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list Henry le Pipere, Oxfordshire; and Adam le Piper, Cambridgeshire.

Peter le Pipre, was listed in the Close Roll, 4 Edward I (during the fourth year of King Edward I's reign.)

"Whether this was the Peter Piper who originated the alliterative nursery rhyme, 'Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppercorns,' I cannot say." 2

In Somerset, John le Pipere, and were both listed there 1 Edward III. 3

Much farther to the south in the manor of Liskeard Coleshill was "vested in the Pypers, from whom it passed in marriage with a female heir to the Vyvyans." 4

Early History of the Pypers family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pypers research. Another 303 words (22 lines of text) covering the years 1457, 1546, 1547, 1562, 1565, 1567, 1596, 1609, 1610, 1667 and 1672 are included under the topic Early Pypers History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pypers Spelling Variations

The appearance of the printing press and the first dictionaries in the last few hundred years did much to standardize spelling. Prior to that time scribes spelled according to sound, a practice that resulted in many spelling variations. Pypers has been spelled Piper, Pyper and others.

Early Notables of the Pypers family

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

Migration of the Pypers family

The expense of the crossing to the North American colonies seemed small beside the difficulties of remaining in Scotland. It was a long and hard trip, but at its end lay the reward of freedom. Some Scots remained faithful to England and called themselves United Empire Loyalists, while others fought in the American War of Independence. Much of this lost Scottish heritage has been recovered in the last century through Clan societies and other patriotic Scottish organizations. A search of immigration and passenger lists revealed many important, early immigrants to North America bearing the name of Pypers: Count August Piper who arrived in New York in 1837; James Piper settled in Virginia in 1623; John Piper settled in Barbados in 1675; John Piper settled in Virginia in 1637..

Sources +

Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print