Surname Happus - Meaning and Origin
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Happus: What does the surname Happus mean?
The last name Happus is of German and Dutch origin. Its meaning could be derived from the German word "happen," which means to take place, to happen. This may suggest that the name originally belonged to a man who often encountered good fortune in life, or someone who was known for having good luck. Similarly, the Dutch word "hap," meaning catch or grip, could offer an alternative explanation for the origin of Happus. This might imply a family whose members could grasp opportunities easily, or were very savvy.
In some instances, the last name Happus might be derived from the Dutch word "hap," which means a mouthful of food. This could suggest the presence of a food-related profession in a family who has passed down this surname. The base element of "hap," however, could also refer to a bird of prey snatching its prey, thus implying courage and a certain fearlessness when it comes to facing challenges.
Whatever the original meaning of Happus may have been, the current bearer of this name may take solace in the fact that—as far as family names go—Happus is a rather unique one.
Order DNA origin analysisHappus: Where does the name Happus come from?
The last name Happus is of Germanic origin and is most commonly found in Germany and other parts of Europe. Happus is an uncommonly used surname across the world today, however it is found in small pockets in small, rural villages throughout Germany.
In the United States, the last name Happus is considered to be a very rare surname, with fewer than one hundred occurrences in the US census data. However, it does appear on a handful of states including New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Tennessee and Texas.
In Canada, the last name Happus does not appear very often, but there are known families in Nova Scotia and Quebec.
The surname Happus is also registered in Australia, though it's quite rare, with only a few families living in Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales.
It's difficult to trace the history of the last name Happus, however since it is a Germanic name it is likely that it is derived from the ancient Germanic personal name HAPP. The word "happ" in German means content or happy, giving the surname a literal meaning of "happy" or "content".
Variations of the surname Happus
The surname Happus has multiple variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These variants include Happ, Happe, Happs, Haps, Happens, and Happers.
Variations of the surname can most likely be traced back to England. Early mentions of the surname Happus can be found in Yorkshire, England, in the year 1219. The name originates from the Old English word “hæpp” which translates to “luck” or “fortune”. Thus, the surname originates from a nickname that was likely given to someone who was fortunate or fortunate-looking.
In Scotland, the name variants may be from the native English surname Haps or the gaelicized form of 'hap' as in 'happie'. It is also possible that the variants arose from the Old English surname Heppe, which is derived from the personal name Herepid.
In Germany, variants of the name could be derived from the Middle High German word 'hap', meaning 'luck', or the Germanic personal name Happo, Happ or Happe.
In the Netherlands, the variants may be from the Dutch word “hap”, meaning “luck or fortune” or may be derived from the Dutch name Hop, from an augmentation of the name Hoppe.
As can be seen, the surname Happus has a variety of different origins and spellings, which can be traced from across the UK, Scotland, Germany and the Netherlands.
Famous people with the name Happus
- Cal Happus: American actor best known for his roles in the films Hardcore Henry, Hot Summer Nights, and California's Finest.
- Georgette Happus: French actress best known for her roles in films such as Formidable!, La famille Bélier, and My Summer of Love.
- Anne Happus: British author best known for her young adult novels, including The Best Mistake I Ever Made and The Vault of Dreams.
- Patrick Happus: American director and producer best known for directing the films Enigma, Ruby Gloom, and Savage Garden.
- June Happus: American costume designer best known for her work on the films The Crucible, Out of Sight, and Primary Colors.
- John Happus: American politician and a member of the Illinois House of Representatives.
- Joe Happus: American filmmaker best known for directing several short films, including The Coma, Hey Hunger!, and Love Is.
- Tom Happus: Australian musician and songwriter, best known for his work with the band Spiderbait.
- Anne-Marie Happus: French-born Canadian artist best known for her sculptures and multimedia installations.
- Michael Happus: British entrepreneur and founder of the software company FastTrack Solutions.