Surname Eppers - Meaning and Origin

Eppers: What does the surname Eppers mean?

The last name Eppers is of German and Dutch origin. It is derived from the personal name Epp, a short form of various Germanic names ginning with the element 'eber/eberhard' meaning 'strong as a wild boar'. It could also refer to people from Eppe, a village in modern Germany; or to someones character who was perceived as 'epper', meaning 'brave, courageous, enterprising'.

In Germany, this last name might have been employed as an occupational name for an eperre, a soldier responsible for warfare and special combat exercises, or an expediter, an agent sent to expedite the delivery of goods.

Throughout history, bearers of the last name Eppers have been prominent members of their communities, and have overwhelmingly prospered as blacksmiths, soldiers, craftsmen, and merchants. This family of talented and hard-working craftsmen even helped build the famous 'Suurhoff Castle' in the Netherlands.

Today, people with the last name Eppers remain connected through rich cultural heritage and strong family ties. Individuals of this name can typically be found in the Southern Netherlands, Germany, and the United States.

Eppers: Where does the name Eppers come from?

The last name Eppers is common today in the Netherlands, Germany, and the United States. It is primarily found in the Netherlands, where at least 14,000 people have it as their last name. It is also found in Germany, where it is much rarer, with an estimated 5,000 individuals having the name.

In the United States, the last name Eppers is much more rare. There are an estimated 1,500 Epperses living in the United States. Most of them live in the Central and Midwestern regions, with the largest population in Wisconsin. This is consistent with the many Dutch settlers who started to move to the Great Lakes region in the 19th century.

Other countries with small Epperse populations include Belgium, Austria, and Canada.

It is hard to trace the origin of the name, but some sources suggest it is derived from the Low German word "Epper," meaning “honourable, noble, influential.” Given its rarity, it is likely the name came into existence with a single family or prominent individual in historic times.

Overall, the last name Eppers seems to be most common in the Netherlands, with small pockets of individuals across many countries, so it remains a rather rare name.

Variations of the surname Eppers

The surname Eppers is an uncommon and unique name, but there are some known variants and spellings of the same origin, including Eppersen, Epperson, Eppersohn, Eppreson, and Opperson. As a patronymic name derived from the Middle Dutch given name Eppe, meaning ‘strong as an oak’, this surname is likely of Dutch and Germanic origin.

The Eppersen spelling is the Dutch form and may refer to individuals from the Netherlands. The Epperson and Eppreson spellings are likely derived from an Anglicized version of the name, while Eppersohn is likely German in origin. The variant Opperson may be a dialectal version or an Americanized form of the original Dutch spelling.

In records, the name is known to have appeared in various forms depending on the language of the document. For example, records from the Middle Ages may list the surname as Epper, while documents from more modern times may record the name as Epperson or Opperson. Some examples of recordings include Magdalena Eppersohn, christened at Heiliggeistkirche in 1799, Camelia Eppers, married at Emmendingen in 1850, and Sinclair Eppers, who emigrated to Pennsylvania in 1751.

Overall, the surname Eppers demonstrates the various forms and iterations that a name can take. From its origin as a Dutch or German name, to its appearance in British records, the many variants of Eppers provide insight into the unique history of the name.

Famous people with the name Eppers

• Jennie Epper: stuntwoman and Hollywood stunt coordinator.
• Arie Epperson: professional football player.
• George Epperson: actor and Hollywood producer.
• Willie Epperson: former NFL player.
• Porsha Epper: professional wrestler.
• Ed Epper: Hollywood producer and director.
• G. D. Eppers: American singer-songwriter.
• J. Eppers: Norwegian singer-songwriter.
• Ben Eppers: professional snowboarder.
• Marley Eppers: American artist.
• Daryl Epper: engineer and managing director of an aerospace engineering company.
• Kenneth Eppers: poet and author.
• Frederick Eppers: known for his paintings of the American West.
• Lothar Eppers: chess master and prolific author.
• Scott Eppers: journalist and news anchor.
• Math Eppers: Dutch sailor and Olympic athlete.
• C. Eppers: American artist and sculptor.
• “Bob” Eppers:persistence steamboat operator in the late 1800s.
• Steve Eppers: newspaper columnist and author.
• Cornelius Eppers: engineer and civil rights leader in the 1960s.

Other surnames

EpperEpperleinEpperlinEppersonEppert