Surname Toppe - Meaning and Origin
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Toppe: What does the surname Toppe mean?
The last name Toppe is of German origin, and can be attributed to two different sources. The first source of the name is an area of origin known as De Toppe, an old estate located in Dutch Flanders near Breda and Schoten. The second potential origin is derived from the German word “toppen” – meaning “to top”. It is thought that the surname may have originally been a nickname given to someone with a reputation of being the “top” of his group — an example of an individual with exceptional abilities or qualities.
The surname Toppe may also be traced back to the Old English phrase “toppa”, which means “hill-top”. In this case, the family would likely have taken the name when they moved to a new area of settlement. This could point to an origin in east or central Germany, as family members could have been seeking greener pastures in a more fertile region.
Today, the surname Toppe is most commonly found in the United States, Germany, and a handful of other countries in Europe and North America. It likely was established in the US during the 19th century, as Toppes began to arrive in the US seeking opportunities that were not available to them in their home countries. This could explain why today the Toppe surname is most popular in the Midwest and Northeast regions of the United States.
Overall, the surname Toppe appears to have two distinct origins – one German and one English – both of which point to a history of people seeking new opportunities and a desire for advancement.
Order DNA origin analysisToppe: Where does the name Toppe come from?
The Toppe surname is primarily found in Germany, followed by the United States and Austria, though it is also common in a few other countries as well. In Germany, it is predominantly found in the German states of Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt, though on a smaller level in Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Lower Saxony and North Rhine- Westphalia. In the United States, Toppe is also most common in the rural Midwest states, particularly Iowa and South Dakota, while in Austria it can be primarily found in Styria and Carinthia.
Toppe is believed to have evolved from the ancient germanic name "Thopein" from the thirteenth century, and it is thought to have arisen as an occupational surname indicating someone who made and sold wicker baskets. It is also possible that the name is derived from the old germanic word "topen" which means "to hem in." The current spelling of the name was established as a result of the work of Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation in the 1500s, giving rise to the modern version of the surname Toppe.
Toppe is a fairly rare surname in many regions, though its popularity is growing, particularly among German Americans and other ethnic groups in the United States. As the German-American population continues to increase, so does its popularity throughout the United States.
Variations of the surname Toppe
The surname Toppe is a variation of the Top or Toepfer surname. It is derived from the Middle High German word “topf”, which means pot or jug, and may have referred to someone who manufactured or sold such items. The surname is commonly found in Germany, where it wasn’t uncommon for farmers to settle in different regions and change the spelling of their surname in the process.
Variations of Toppe and related spellings include Toepfer, Toepferl, Toppe, Topp, Toppo, Toppen, and Toepfer.
The surname Toppe may also be a variant spelling of the Dutch surname Top, which is derived from the Dutch word “Top”, meaning the highest point or top. Variations of the Dutch Top surname include Toppe, Tops, Toop, Tooppen, Topse, Topsen, and Topsman.
The surname Toppe may also be an Anglicized form of the Irish surname O’TOPAIGH, which is derived from the Gaelic “O’Topaigh”, which means “descendant of Topaigh”, and was a well-known personal name in Ireland during the 14th century. Variations of this surname are O'Tophey, Toppey, Toppy, and O’Topaigh or O’Tophaigh.
The surname Toppe is also found in England, where it is believed to be a variation of the surname Topsy, which is an English combination of the words “top” and “sy”, meaning “the top”. Variations of the English surname Topsy include Toppy, Toops, Toosey, and Toosey.
Famous people with the name Toppe
- Wolf-Dieter Toppe: former East German swimmer.
- Alexander Toppe: former German soccer defender.
- Laurent Toppe: French-American artist and sculptor.
- Dan Toppe: former American college basketball player.
- Jörg Toppe: German engineer and inventor.
- Arne Toppe: German actor.
- Ivar Toppe: Norwegian former professional footballer.
- Marie Charlotte Toppe: Danish artist and illustrator.
- Norm Toppe: American sound mixer.
- Pål Toppe: Norwegian handball coach and former handball player.