Find out how popular the last name Harper is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Harper.

Harper, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Harper surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Harper in America

Harper is the 245th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Harper surname appeared 124,461 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 42 people would have the surname Harper.

We can also compare 2010 data for Harper to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Harper

The surname Harper originated in England and dates back to the medieval period. It is an occupational name derived from the Old English word "harpere," which means "harper" or "one who plays the harp." The name likely referred to skilled musicians who entertained in the great halls of lords and nobles during that era.

The earliest recorded instance of the name dates back to the 13th century in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, where a John le Harper was mentioned. The Hundred Rolls were administrative records created in 1274-1275 to survey landholdings and tenants throughout England.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Harpour, Harpor, and Harpare, reflecting the different spellings and pronunciations of the time. One notable early bearer of the name was William Harper, a renowned poet and composer who lived in Scotland in the late 15th century.

The Harper surname is also associated with several place names in England, such as Harper's Hill in Surrey and Harper's Wood in Hertfordshire. These place names likely derived from people with the Harper surname who lived or owned land in those areas.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Harper surname. One of the most famous was Samuel Harper (1766-1825), an American writer and editor who founded the publishing house Harper & Brothers, which later became HarperCollins Publishers.

Another well-known Harper was Robert Goodloe Harper (1765-1825), an American politician and lawyer who served as a United States Senator from Maryland. He was a prominent figure during the early years of the United States and played a key role in the ratification of the Constitution.

In the field of literature, Lilian Harper (1879-1952) was a British novelist and playwright known for her works exploring themes of social and political issues. Her novel "Unwilling Traveller" was a notable success in the early 20th century.

Charley Harper (1922-2007) was an American artist renowned for his distinctive stylized wildlife prints and illustrations. His minimalist designs and vibrant colors became iconic in the mid-20th century and influenced many artists and designers.

Additionally, the Harper surname has been associated with several notable scientists and researchers, including James Harper (1795-1869), an American botanist and geologist who made significant contributions to the study of plant life and geology in the early 19th century.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Harper

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Harper.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Harper was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Harper has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Harper was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Harper, please contact us.

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