Surname Roepe - Meaning and Origin

Roepe: What does the surname Roepe mean?

The last name Roepe is of Germanic origin and is derived from the Germanic personal name Ruopo. It appears to have been adopted by those from the Netherlands, where the Dutch spelling is Rupe.

The name is found predominantly in the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, the United States and countries in South America. However, it has also been recorded in Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Canada and Poland.

The literal translation of Roepe is "one who shouts". It is believed that originally the name was given to people who shouted particularly loud when giving orders, or in other aspects of life.

In recent times, the name has been linked to Richard Roepe, a German theologian of the 17th Century. Roepe was a Catholic theologian and teacher of casuistry and moral philosophy who studied at the universities of Würzburg and Vienna. He is best known for his influential journal "Acta philosophica", which was published in 1646 and in which he discussed current philosophical and theological topics.

In addition to its religious and academic backgrounds, there are numerous unrelated individuals of various occupations with the last name Roepe. It can refer to nurses, lawyers, teachers, academics, governors, entrepreneurs, sportspersons, chefs and many more.

Overall, the last name Roepe is an interesting and diverse name that reflects the various origins and occupations of its holders across countries and cultures.

Roepe: Where does the name Roepe come from?

The last name Roepe is most commonly found in Belgium and Luxembourg, particularly in Flanders and Wallonia. This is likely due to the fact that the name originated in the region, originally meaning "one from Reupel" or "from Reoppen". It can also be found in the Netherlands and Germany.

Roepe is, however, a relatively uncommon surname overall. Out of 8 million surnames in the US, for example, only about 375 people carry the name Roepe. The largest concentration of people with the name can be found in the city of Bergen op Zoom in the Netherlands, where over 200 people with the last name Roepe are recorded.

In Belgium, the family can also be found in the provinces of Antwerp, Limburg and East Flanders. It is also relatively common in the surrounding countries--it is especially numerous in the Upper Palatinate region of Germany.

It is possible that the Roepe surname may be found in other countries and regions globally as well, as people may have relocated due to marriage, immigration, military service or other reasons. For example, some Roma people may have adopted this surname, and might trace their family histories to both the Roepe surname and their Romani origins.

Variations of the surname Roepe

Roepe is a German surname derived from the Middle Old High German word "roupen" meaning "to slash, and cut". It is an occupational surname which originated as a name for a barber. Variants of the surname Roepe include Röpe, Roepke, Roepel, Roepke, and Roppel.

In Germany, Roepe is not a common surname and is found more often in the northern regions. Around the early 1800s, members of the Roepe family migrated to Denmark and the United States. In the United States, the variants Roepke and Roepel are found more commonly.

The Roepe surname is also found in the Netherlands. It is believed to have originated in the Dutch provinces of Groningen and Friesland. In the Netherlands, the variants Reep, Rupp, and de Roepe are common.

In some cases, the spelling Roepe is seen changed to Rupe, due to some phonetic translation of the name. Over time, the spelling may have also been changed to Reep, Ruopp and Rupe.

In addition, there are variants with the surname prefix "van", which is mainly seen in the Dutch provinces of North Brabant and Limburg. These variants include Van Roepe, Van Reep, Van Rup, Van Reepen, and Van Rupen.

The members of the Roepe family also adopted the surname of its father's first name as a last name. As a result, surnames like Reeper and Ropp were also adopted by some families.

Famous people with the name Roepe

• Michael Roepe, a professor of radiation oncology and molecular radiotherapy at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.
• John Roepe, a professional heavy weight boxer from Canada.
• Erik Roepe, founder of the East Coast Skiing Hall of Fame in Philadelphia.
• Steve Roepe, a football coach who has coached NFL sides such as the Cleveland Browns and Miami Dolphins.
• Joanna Roepe, an American actress of soap operas and television series.
• William Roepe, an entrepreneur and philanthropist who has supported numerous charitable organizations such as the World Wildlife Fund.
• Etienne Roepe, a French artist known for his romantic landscapes and maritime scenes.
• Robert Roepe, a professional golfer from the USA who competed in the PGA Tour in the late 1980s.
• Margaret Roepe, a nun who helped establish the Sisters of Divine Providence in the United States.
• Philip Roepe, an Emmy Award-winning film editor known for his work on films such as The French Connection and The Exorcist.

Other surnames

Roepert