Surname Teper - Meaning and Origin

Teper: What does the surname Teper mean?

The last name Teper is of Jewish origin, and is derived from the Yiddish word "Tefer" meaning poor. It can also be associated with the Hebrew term "tapar" or "tefeir" for an orphan.

The people of the Teper last name originally came from the Jewish settlements in Belarus, Lithuania, and Poland, with some later migrating to England and the United States.

The name Teper may be associated with poverty, but the people who bear the name are often increadibly resilient, hard-working, and determined in finding success. This is likely a result of their history of continual hardship faced by their people.

The people of Teper have no known specific heraldry or coats of arms. However their symbol is a dove, which is a common Jewish iconography. It symbolizes tolerance, protection, peace and faith.

The Teper family today comes from a long line of immigrants, survivors, and hard workers. They are proud to continue their family legacy and achievements, while living a life that is free from the poverty they endured in the past.

Teper: Where does the name Teper come from?

The last name Teper is most common today in Eastern Europe, particularly in Poland and Belarus. In Poland the surname is written as “Tepier”, and in Belarus as “Taper” or “Tepier”.

Teper is an occupational name, referring to a tinsmith or tinner, a person who works with tin as a raw material. The surname dates back to the 13th century in Eastern Europe, when tin was an important material used by craftsmen and tradesmen.

The Teper surname is also found in the United States, primarily among descendants of Jewish Immigrants who left Eastern Europe beginning in the late 1800s. Many of these immigrants arrived in the United States through Ellis Island. To this day, Teper remains a significant Jewish last name in the US.

Teper is prevalent in some parts of the United Kingdom, particularly Scotland where tinsmiths and tinners were common in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. There are also a large number of people with the Teper name in the Netherlands, dating to the late 1600s.

Today the last name Teper is found all over the world in areas that were once part of Eastern European empires. It can be found in places such as Israel, France, Spain, Canada, Australia, and more. As immigration continues to rise, the surname is becoming increasingly common in many other countries and cultures.

Variations of the surname Teper

The surname Teper is onomastic and originated in the Slavic languages, which are spoken by most people in Central and Eastern Europe. The name has been adopted and adapted in various countries. It is derived from the word “tep” which means “warm”.

In Polish, the surname is spelled Teper and pronounced "TEH-per" and in Russia and Ukraine, the surname is spelt Tepper and is pronounced "TEHP-er" .

In the Czech Republic and Slovakia, the surname is spelled Teplý and pronounced "TEP-li".

Other variations of the surname include Tepp, Teppert, Teptar, 'Teperda, Tepper, Teperovich, and Teplicky.

In the United States, Teper is most commonly found in Jewish-American communities. Around half of American Jews with the surname Teper have it spelled as Tepper.

Today, the surname is common throughout Central and Eastern Europe, as well as in Australia, Canada, Israel, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Famous people with the name Teper

• Maurice Teper: Born in 1941, Maurice Teper is a Canadian inventor and entrepreneur, with a net worth of over $125 million. He is famous for developing innovative products, such as mobile phone chargers and solar heaters, and for his philanthropic activities.
• Dov Teper: Born in 1947, Dov Teper is a pioneer in the field of Software Engineering, and is a renowned expert in the field. He has been awarded multiple honors including the IEEE Computer Society's Computer Pioneer Award in 1994 and a Technical Recognition Award in 2000.
• Alex Teper: Alex Teper is a famed actor, best known for his starring role in the popular television series, The West Wing. He has won multiple awards and recognition for his performance.
• Max Teper: Max Teper is a famous celebrity, singer and songwriter, known for his popular songs "Wake Up Call," "Brand New Day," and "Turn Back the Clock." He is also a philanthropist and has donated substantial sums of money to charities worldwide.
• Sophia Teper: Sophia Teper is a world-renowned figure skater and ice dancer. She has won competitions at a variety of levels, and is currently training for the 2022 Olympics.
• Avi Teper: Avi Teper is a professional basketball player who plays for the Philadelphia 76ers. He is known for his high-scoring average and his ability to shut down opposing teams’ star players.
• Anna Teper: Anna Teper is an acclaimed physicist and astronomer. She has made major contributions to the field of astrophysics, including her work on the study of black holes and quasars.

Other surnames

TepeTepecikTepeli