Show ContentsTopor History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Topor family

The surname Topor was first found in Saxony where they were an ancient family "well known in the literature of Germany and France." 1 The family held a family seat at Thuringe in later years. The family became dispersed when they were beset by the religious conflicts of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Under Charles V of France the main branch were described as Lutherans or "tout-perd" which in the Netherlands became Toupard. From this source, "the principal branch went to Guernsey in 1548." 1 Another source follows this timeline but adds "A branch of the family settled in England at Sandwich, Kent, whence another descendant, Thomas Tupper, went to America in 1635, and helped to found the town of Sandwich, Massachusetts in 1637." 2 Yet another source claims a completely different origin of the name. In this case, the name originated at "York in 1365 [when] men were employed in beating and ramming (tupant) the earth and mud, strengthened with straw, with rammers (tuppis) and great hammers. As the rams were called tups, these workmen may well have been named tuppers." 3 The latter source may have some credence as early rolls revealed: Robert Tophird in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1327, 3 and Willelmus Tuphird in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379. 4

Early History of the Topor family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Topor research. Another 140 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1548, 1821, 1887 and 1896 are included under the topic Early Topor History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Topor Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Topper, Toppfer, Tupper, Touper, Toper and others.

Early Notables of the Topor family

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


Topor migration to the United States +



Topor Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Hanna Topor, aged 29, Swedish settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Louisiana" in 1868 5
  • Josef Topor, aged 45, Prussian settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Lessing" in 1879 5
  • Keile Topor, aged 22, Prussian settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Lessing" in 1884 5
  • Reirl Topor, aged 20, Prussian settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Lessing" in 1884 5
  • Janos Topor, aged 20, Hungarian settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Lloyd G G Eider" in 1890 5
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Topor Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Kata Topor, aged 17, Polish settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Gera" in 1900 5
  • Maria Topor, aged 34, Polish settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Belgravia" in 1900 5
  • Antoni Topor, aged 33, Polish settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Neckar" in 1901 5
  • Stanislaw Topor, aged 6, Polish settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Batavia" in 1902 5
  • Franciszka Topor, aged 8, Polish settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Batavia" in 1902 5
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Topor migration to Australia +

Topor Settlers in Australia in the 20th Century
  • Chil Masjek Topor, French settler who arrived in Melbourne, Australia aboard the ship "Cephee" in 1926 6
  • C. Topor, French settler who arrived in Melbourne, Australia aboard the ship "Ormonde" in 1927 6
  • E. S. Topor, French settler who arrived in Melbourne, Australia aboard the ship "Ormonde" in 1927 6
  • Isaja Topor, British settler who arrived in Melbourne, Australia aboard the ship "Otranto" in 1937 6

Contemporary Notables of the name Topor (post 1700) +

  • Tom Topor (b. 1938), American playwright, screenwriter, and novelist
  • Teddy Peter Topor (1930-2017), American football player
  • Roland Topor (1938-1997), French surrealist artist, writer, and filmmaker
  • Nikolai David Topor -Stanley (b. 1985), Australian former soccer player
  • Marcela Topor (b. 1976), Romanian journalist and First Lady of Catalonia
  • Krzysztof Topór (b. 1972), Polish Olympic biathlete


The Topor 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: L'espoir est ma force
Motto Translation: Hope is my strength.


  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Hanks, Patricia and Flavia Hodges, A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. Print. (ISBN 0-19-211592-8)
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  5. Ellis Island Search retrieved 21st October 2021. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
  6. National Records Search retrieved 21st October 2021. Retrieved from https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au


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