Show ContentsTopping History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Topping Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Topping

What does the name Topping mean?

The ancestors of the Topping family brought their name to England in the wave of migration after the Norman Conquest of 1066. They lived in Dorset. Their name, however, is a reference to Turpin Au Bois, Normandy, 1 the family's place of residence prior to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. Alternatively, the name could have been derived from the French name Turpinus, a derivative of the Latin 'turpis,' meaning 'disgraceful,' a name adopted by the early Christians as a token of humility. 2

Another source claims the name could have been "derived from the name of an ancestor, as in 'the son of Thorfin,' a popular name among the Danes, which originated some of our place-names; e.g. Thorpanstye, otherwise Thorfinstye Hall, in the parish of Cartmel, Lancashire, was so named from the owner Thorfin or Torpin, a great landowner (of twelve manors) at the time of the Doomsday Survey." 3

Early Origins of the Topping family

The surname Topping was first found in Dorset but was quickly found in Yorkshire shortly after the Norman Conquest. One of the first records of the name was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Torfin or Turfin. 4

Turfinus filius Torfini was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1130 as was Torphinus in the same rolls in 1196. A few years later, Gaufridus filius Thorphini was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls of 1204. 2

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list John Turpin in Oxfordshire. 3 Whitchester in Northumberland was home to a branch of the family. "This place was for ages the possession of the Turpin family." 5

"Turpin was a common name in Exmouth in the 16th and 17th centuries. William Turpin was churchwarden of Littleham in 1575. Turpin is also an ancient east of England name, specifically found in Essex. " 6

"The name of Turpin was represented in Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, Oxfordshire, and Wilts, in the 13th century (Hundredorum Rolls). In the reign of Mary, George Turpin, Esq., bought the manor of Claybrook, Leicestershire, from Thomas Lacey, Esq., of Charlecote, Warwickshire. The name is also now represented in Devonshire." 6

Richard "Dick" Turpin (1705-1739), the infamous English highwayman who was executed on 22 March 1739 for his deeds was inspiration for many English ballads, theatre and films hailed from Hempstead, Essex. Ironically, Turpin was never convicted of being a highwayman or a murderer. He was convicted of being a horse-rustler and that led to his execution.

In Scotland, the name dates back to 1178 when Turpin was the name of the second known bishop of Brechin. Early records often listed the early Latin form of the name as in "Magister Turpinus [who] witnessed a charter by William the Lion of the Church of Foregrund, c. 1165-71." 7 Walter, son of Turpin, exchanged his lands of Kenny for those of Othirlony, c. 1226-39, William, son of Turpun, was juror on an Inquisition concerning the lands of Mefth, 1262. He may have been a relative of Richard Turpin who witnessed a charter by Bernard de Rippelai in the twelfth century. 7

Early History of the Topping family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Topping research. Another 83 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1529, 1554, 1563, 1565, 1572, 1574, 1583, 1619 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Topping History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Topping Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years the English language had no fixed system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations occurred commonly in Anglo Norman surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Topping were recorded, including Turpine, Torpin, Turpin, Turbin, Turping, Tirping, Tirpin, Terpin, Turpen and many more.

Early Notables of the Topping family

Sir George Turpin (1529-1583), of Knaptoft, Leicestershire and London, an English Member of Parliament for Leicestershire in November 1554, 1563 and 1572. He was a Justice of the Peace...
Another 29 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Topping Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Topping Ranking

the United States, the name Topping is the 8,875th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 8

Migration of the Topping family to Ireland

Some of the Topping family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 59 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Topping migration to the United States +

The unstable environment in England at this time caused numerous families to board ships and leave in search of opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad in places like Ireland, Australia, and particularly the New World. The voyage was extremely difficult, however, and only taken at great expense. The cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels caused many to arrive diseased and starving, not to mention destitute from the enormous cost. Still opportunity in the emerging nations of Canada and the United States was far greater than at home and many went on to make important contributions to the cultures of their adopted countries. An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Topping arrived in North America very early:

Topping Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Thomas Topping, who landed in Connecticut in 1651 10
  • Samuel Topping, who arrived in Virginia in 1693 10
Topping Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Robert Topping, who landed in Virginia in 1701 10
Topping Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Henry Topping, aged 38, who landed in New York in 1812 10
  • John Topping, aged 30, who arrived in New York in 1812 10
Topping Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Alexander Topping, aged 25, who settled in America from Glasgow, in 1903
  • David Topping, aged 35, who settled in America from London, in 1906
  • Annie Topping, aged 35, who landed in America from Kendal, England, in 1909
  • Annie Gosing Topping, aged 39, who immigrated to America from Barbados, West Indies, in 1910
  • Andrew Topping, aged 23, who immigrated to the United States from Gilford, Ireland, in 1912
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Topping migration to Canada +

Topping Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Edward Topping, who arrived in Canada in 1816

Topping migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia included the Second Fleet of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Second Fleet
  • Mr. William Topping, British settler convicted in Lancashire, England in 1789, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Admiral Barrington" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 9
  • Mr. Thomas Topping, British settler convicted in Middlesex, England in 1790, sentenced to 7 years for stealing a pot, transported aboard the ship "Third Fleet" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 10
Following the Second Fleet, other convicts and early settlers arriving in Australia include:

Topping Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. James Topping, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life, transported aboard the "Baring" in April 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
  • Mr. Henry Topping, (b. 1797), aged 19, English brick maker who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 16th January 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1828 12

Contemporary Notables of the name Topping (post 1700) +

  • Seymour Topping (1921-2020), American journalist and administrator of the Pulitzer Prizes from 1993 to 2002
  • Jenny Louise Topping (b. 1980), American former 4-time NCAA Division I First Team All-American, left-handed hitting softball player
  • Nathaniel Topping, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Suffolk County, 1836 13
  • Kile Topping (1897-1978), American Republican politician, Member of West Virginia State House of Delegates from Lincoln County, 1929-30 14
  • Harry L. Topping, American Republican politician, Elected Illinois State House of Representatives 20th District 1940 14
  • Harry Topping (1913-2001), English footballer, later a coach in the Netherlands
  • Keith Andrew Topping (b. 1963), English author, journalist and broadcaster
  • Daniel Reid Topping (1912-1974), part owner and president of the New York Yankees baseball team (1945 to 1964)
  • George Topping (1881-1916), retired Australian rules footballer
  • ... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
RMS Lusitania
  • Mrs. Margaret Topping, English 3rd Class passenger residing in Brooklyn, New York, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 14
  • Miss Hilda Topping, English 3rd Class passenger residing in Brooklyn, New York, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 15
  1. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  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)
  4. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  5. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  6. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  7. 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)
  8. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  9. Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships
  10. 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)
  11. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
  12. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
  13. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 12) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  14. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/

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