Surname Kuper - Meaning and Origin
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Kuper: What does the surname Kuper mean?
The last name Kuper is of German origin and appears to have either been derived from the name of a place or occupation. The most commonly suggested origin is from the Middle High German word "küfer" (barrel-maker), meaning a cooper by trade. In some cases, the name may have also derived from the Middle High German word "küpere" (slope) or "kiupe" (house), denoting a person from a certain region or location.
In the German-speaking world, the name Kuper is most common in the regions of Prussia and the Low Countries. Historically, the name was used by both tradesmen and peasant farmers in this area. During the 15th and 16th centuries, various bearers of the Kuper surname moved to other regions of Europe, including the Netherlands, France, and England.
The Kuper name has also spread beyond Europe in the modern era, as family members with the name have settled in places like the United States, Canada, and Australia. The name is sometimes found with spelling variants such as Kueper, Kupper, Kupfer, and Kueffer.
Order DNA origin analysisKuper: Where does the name Kuper come from?
The last name Kuper is most common in the Central and Eastern parts of Europe. It is particularly common in countries such as Poland, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania and Latvia. It is also found in areas of the former Soviet Union such as Russia and Kazakhstan, as well as in some other countries in Europe.
In the United States, the name is found more rarely, but it still has some presence. According to the 2000 US Census, the name Kuper had a frequency of 0.002% nationwide. This is equivalent to about 2,000 people with the surname. The states with the highest concentration of Kupers were California, New York and New Jersey.
The name may have originated from several different sources including a Slavic word meaning "black bird", a Hebrew word meaning "colonizer", or a German word meaning "cooper", or barrel maker. It is likely that the surname was given to people according to a profession or occupation.
The Kuper name is also associated with some famous figures, such as former US senator and great-grandson of Levi Strauss, Levi Strauss Kuper (1888–1956). Levi Strauss Kuper was a lawyer, business-minded entrepreneur and a major figure in California.
In summary, the surname Kuper is more common in Central and Eastern Europe, particularly in countries such as Poland, Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan. It is much less common in the United States, but still present, with the highest concentration in the states of California, New York and New Jersey.
Variations of the surname Kuper
The surname Kuper is a projective spelling of the German surname Küper, which is derived from the Middle High German word kuofer. This word is derived from the Old High German term kūfari or kuofari, meaning “cooper” or “barrel maker”. The Kuper surname is found in various countries around the world, with many variants being derived from different languages depending on the country of origin.
In Germany, the Kuper surname is also seen as Küper, Kupfer, Küffer, Küper, Kueffer, KHoefler, Köhler, Koof, and Kufer. In Netherlands, the surname is found as Kuperty, Koop, and Kooper. In Poland, the surname is spelled Kuper, Koper, Kopp, Kop, Kopjarek, and Kopec. In Switzerland, the surname is spelled Kupferer, Koepplin, and Kupferschmidt. In the Czech Republic, the surname is spelled Kupec and in Estonia, the surname is spelled Kupin.
In the United States, the surname is also seen as Copper, Coppers, Copperthwaite, Kuppaert, Kupfer, and Kupper. In the United Kingdom, the surname is most commonly seen as Cooper, Coopers, and Kuper. In Canada, the surname is also seen as Coppers, Copperthwaite, and Kuper.
Variations in spelling of the surname Kuper are also a result of historical records and immigration patterns. A variety of point of origins in different countries means that a variety of spellings both native and foreign have been used throughout generations.
Famous people with the name Kuper
- Adam Kuper: British social anthropologist.
- Martin Kuper: British actor.
- Jim Kuper: Canadian professional hockey player.
- Manfred Kuper: German writer.
- Herbert W. Kuper: American geneticist and botanist.
- Simon Kuper: British journalist and author.
- Leo Kuper: South African academic and author.
- Michael Kuper: American professor of orthopedic surgery.
- Charles Kuper: Australian former rugby player.
- Bobby Kuper: American professional soccer player.
- Joe Kuper: British television producer.
- Danny Kuper: American actor and singer-songwriter.
- Jürgen Kuper: German artist, film-maker/animator, writer, and composer.
- Carole Kuper: American physicist and astronomy professor.
- Ruth Kuper: British painter.
- Fredrik Kuper: Norwegian former association football player.
- Stewart Kuper: American former cast member of "The Real World."
- Gustav Charles Kuper: American physician and professor.
- Stephen Kuper: English artist and roboticist.
- Cameron Kuper: American former professional ice hockey goaltender.