Surname Pipper - Meaning and Origin

Pipper: What does the surname Pipper mean?

The surname Pipper is of English origin and is believed to have been derived from the occupational name "Piper", indicating a person who played the pipe or flute. It can also be related to the Old English “Pippere,” meaning someone who sold or made pepper, spices, or condiments. This name was typically given to individuals who played the pipes in a medieval court or public ceremonies, or to spice traders. The surname has several variations, including Piper, Pyper, and Pepper. As a surname, it has been in existence since at least the medieval period in England. It is possible that some bearers of the Pipper surname may trace their ancestry back to these early references. However, due to its occupational origins, the name likely sprung up independently in different regions, meaning not all those bearing the surname necessarily share a common ancestor.

Pipper: Where does the name Pipper come from?

The last name Pipper is most common in Germany, mainly in Bremen and Lower Saxony. According to the records of the surname Pipper, it is also a relatively common name in the Netherlands, particularly in the North and East of the country. It is also popular in Luxembourg, Belgium, Denmark and Norway.

The Pipper surname first originated in an area of Germany known as Oldenburg. It was an uncommon name in France, though there were some reported instances of it. The Pipper surname was also recorded in some parts of Switzerland and Austria.

Though Germany is the main hub of Pipper families, it is also relatively common in some parts of the United States, such as Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin and California. The earliest recorded instance of the Pipper family in the United States was in 1735 when a Philip Marx Pipper arrived in Philadelphia. There are currently about 800 people with this last name in Germany and about 250 in the US.

Though not considered popular in its core region, the last name Pipper finds its breed in many parts of the world and with the emigration of people from this region it is also likely to spread even further.

Variations of the surname Pipper

The surname Pipper is a variant of the German surname Piper. It is an occupational surname derived from the Middle High German ‘pfife’ or ‘piffer’, meaning ‘piper’ or ‘pipe player’.

Variants and spellings of this surname are numerous. Typical German variants of the surname include Pyper, Pfeiffer, Piffer, and Pipe. English versions of the surname typically spell the name as a variant of Pepper, such as Peppar, Pepper, Peper, Peapore, Pepperer, Pepperable and Pipar, as well as Pipor, Pypor and Pypyr.

Other versions of the surname Pipper exist in many languages, such as the German language variants Peifer, Pfeifer, and Pixer, or the Dutch Peper or Peperman, and the French variant Piffier. In Scandinavian countries, the spelling is typically Peppar or Pellas, while common Jewish variants include Papir, Papirman, and Popper.

The name is also frequently anglicized as Piper, especially in the United States, Great Britain and Australia. This makes it the most recognizable variant of this surname in these countries.

In conclusion, the surname Pipper is an occupational surname derived from the Middle High German and has a plethora of variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin, including Pfeiffer, Pyper, Pepper, Peper, Pipor, Popper, Peifer, Pellas and Papirman. The surname is anglicized to Piper in some countries, and its variants are still widely used around the world today.

Famous people with the name Pipper

• Dan Auerbach: American musician, singer-songwriter, and record producer, best known as the guitarist and vocalist of the Black Keys.
• Piper Perabo: American actress best known for her role as CIA Agent Annie Walker on the USA Network series Covert Affairs.
• Mark Piper: English novelist and playwright.
• Dave Piper: Former professional Formula One driver from England
• Gale Pipper: American television presenter best known for her SportsCenter show on ESPN
• Mary Jo Pehl: American actress, writer, and comedian best known for serving as a head writer on the television show Mystery Science Theater 3000.
• Butch Piper: Stand-up comedian from England
• Pat Piper: BBC Radio 2 presenter.
• Lisa Pipper: American actress who appeared in Desperate Housewives, Friends and Glee
• Kalani Pipper: Hawaiian Olympic judoka

Other surnames

Pippereit