Surname Wardrope - Meaning and Origin

Wardrope: What does the surname Wardrope mean?

Wardrope is a surname of English origin. It is thought to be a derivative of the earlier French surname "Warderobe," meaning "guardian of the robes". It likely refers to someone who was responsible for managing a noble's robes, such as personal clothing and regalia. The name may have also been given to those with a job related to the wardrobe, like a tailor, seamstress, or furrier.

The surname Wardrope is derived from Middle English words such as warderobe, wardrouf, wardure, and werrupp. In its origin turn, those words come from Old French warde and robe, meaning “guardian of the robes”. It originally referred to a position of trust, indicating one who was responsible for watching and managing the robes and clothing of a noble house.

Wardrope is still a fairly common surname, particularly found in central England in places such as Norfolk, Nottinghamshire, and Derbyshire. Wardrope is also frequently found in the United States, having been brought over during the immigration period, and is found most commonly in areas where many English immigrants settled, mainly in the Midwestern states.

Although there are no longer individuals responsible for managing the robes of a noble house, the surname Wardrope is a reminder of the past and the position of trust and responsibility that those individuals once held.

Wardrope: Where does the name Wardrope come from?

The last name Wardrope is popular in England, Scotland, and the United States. The surname is most common in the United Kingdom, where it is ranked the 2,871most popular last name according to the 2019 UK Census. In the United States, Wardrope is ranked the 8,834most common surname.

The surname has several derivatives, including Wardrop, Wardropper and Wardropp. The name likely originated from Old French, deriving from the word "warderobe" which means 'guardrobe' or 'a piece of furniture in which to keep clothes'. The anglicized form of the name is likely the same form which eventually gave rise to the name Wardrope or Wardrop.

The variation of the name is found in the British Isles and United States with a heavier concentration in areas of the British Isles including Scotland and England. Residents of the United States with the last name Wardrope tend to have ancestors who immigrated from those same areas.

Further research reveals that the spelling variation Wardrop can also be found in Ireland. The topmost locations where the Wardrope name is concentrated are the South East of England and Puerto Rico, as well as Northern Ireland.

Overall, the last name Wardrope is still relatively common in certain countries today, and those with the surname likely have British, Irish, or Scottish heritage.

Variations of the surname Wardrope

The surname Wardrope has variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. Variants of this surname are Warthrop, Warnerrop, Wornrop, and Warahrop. Spellings of this surname include Wordrop, Wardoi, Wauruop, and Wordrp. Surnames of the same origin include Warth, Warter, Wareham, Warehorne, Warford, Warmer, and Warrolls.

The Warthrop variation of the surname is believed to be derived from Walthrop or Walthropp, which was recorded in England in the annals of 1248. Wardrop is a variation of this, with the drop being a suffix that was added, denoting 'estate'. The alternate spellings of Wordrop and Wauruop are likely changes of pronunciation as the surname passed down through generations and customs.

Warth, Warter, Wareham and Warehorne are all variations of the surname that are likely taken from the prot�g� 'Walter'. This was a popular name used by many Norman families who settled in Britain after the Conquest. Meanwhile, Warford is derived from the Old English word 'wer' meaning an enclosure, and the word 'ford' which signifies a shallow spot in a river where fording is possible.

The Warmer and Warrolls variants refer to people with a distinct trade. Warmer would have been an armorer or metalworker, while Warrolls was a variant taken from an Old French word, 'wararu', meaning a processing cloth.

Overall, the surname Wardrope has a variety of spelling variations and surnames of the same origin. Each name likely has its own distinct history and background, and it's important to take the time to explore the origins of the Wardrope surname.

Famous people with the name Wardrope

• Eduard Wardrop: Russian historian, ethnographer, and specialist in the study of folklore.
• John Wardrop: British classical scholar, editor and philologist.
• Sarah Wardrop: Australian poet, editor, publisher and literary editor.
• Bill Wardrop: American politician and mayor of Westland, Michigan from 1999 to 2001.
• Richard Wardrop: Canadian opera singer and professor.
• Bob Wardrop: Irish basketball coach and former player.
• Martin Wardrope: English theologian noted for writing about the prophesy in the Bible.
• Leonard Wardrop: English soldier and British Empire soldier in World War I.
• Tom Wardrop: Australian journalist, filmmaker and creator of a documentary about the life of former First Nations activist David Prosser.
• Angela Wardrop: Canadian business executive who is the current president and CEO of ConAgra Foods.

Other surnames

Wardrop