Surname Strepers - Meaning and Origin
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Strepers: What does the surname Strepers mean?
Strepers is an uncommon Dutch surname with several possible interpretations. One possible derivation of the name may be from the Old Dutch word “strepen”, which means to stripe or paint with stripes. This may have been a descriptive name given to someone who was a painter or dyer by trade. Alternatively, it may have referred to a military rank such as a Strepenkapitein, which was like a modern-day equivalent to a colonel.
Another possible source of the surname Strepers is from Belgian French, where it is derived from the similar sounding “estropier”, meaning "one who cripples or maims" – likely a nickname given to someone particularly skilled in Battle or in the hunt for game.
Whatever its origin, the surname Strepers appears to have mainly been found in Holland and Belgium, and may have become more prominent in the early 16th century when migration to the Low Countries from other European nations was at its peak. What is certain is that today the surname Strepers is quite rare, but those who bear the name can be assured of a history that reaches centuries into the past.
Order DNA origin analysisStrepers: Where does the name Strepers come from?
The last name Strepers is most common in the Netherlands. According to the data provided by the Netherlands Institute for Social Research, there were 8,644 people with this surname in the Netherlands as of 2007. This makes Strepers the 125th most common surname in the Netherlands.
Outside of the Netherlands, the surname Strepers is generally considered to be of Dutch origin. However, it is still relatively uncommon. For example, there were only 81 people named Strepers in the United States as of 2018, according to the United States Census Bureau. Most of those individuals live in small towns located in states along the eastern seaboard.
The last name Strepers appears to be especially popular in the northern provinces of the Netherlands, such as Groningen, Friesland, and Drenthe. The municipality of Zuidlaren in Drenthe has the highest concentration of Strepers in the country, with 1,119 people carrying the last name.
Interest in the last name Strepers has been increasing over the last few decades, due to its close association with Dutch culture. As a result, it is becoming more common among Dutch expatriates living abroad or those with Dutch ancestry. Furthermore, the last name Strepers is relatively rare compared to other Dutch surnames, making it an attractive name for modern families seeking an uncommon but proud Dutch heritage.
Variations of the surname Strepers
The surname Strepers is an old Dutch surname derived from the Dutch word ‘streep’ which means boundary. The Old Dutch ‘pers’ was also an early Dutch name for a result of habitation being situated by the boundary. This surname has variations including Streipers, Strepers, Streepers, Streipers and Streepers. During the course of time, the spelling of the name may have also varied from country to country which would account for the discrepancies in spellings over the centuries.
The variations on the spelling of this surname are common in Dutch records, but the variations can also be found in other countries where Dutch emmigrants settled. Examples of those countries would be the United States, Canada and Australia, which all have significant Dutch or Dutch-descended populations.
In the USA the common variations on the spelling are Streipers, Strepers and Streepers but in Canada, Streipers and Streepers are more common. In Australia, the most popular variation of the surname is Strepers.
Families with the surname Strepers also have alternative surnames related to them, such as Streepers-Van Essen, Strijders, Strippers and Streepers-Thijssen. These variant surnames appear in censuses, records and other databases.
Therefore, much like any surname, the spelling of Strepers has varied over time and locations, possibly due to translation and variant spellings each generation has brought.
Famous people with the name Strepers
- Bert Streper: Dutch former soccer player
- Bart Streper: Dutch artist
- Carla Streper: Dutch model
- Bobby Streper: American former football player
- Claes Streper: Dutch basketball player
- Tijl Streper: Dutch cyclist
- John Streper: Belgian football coach
- Georgette Streper: Belgian state lawyer
- Gijs Streper: Dutch marathoner
- Hein Streper: Dutch politician