Surname Eppe - Meaning and Origin
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Eppe: What does the surname Eppe mean?
The last name Eppe is of German and Dutch origin, and is derived from the German word "eppe" meaning fir or pine trees. It is an occupational name, descended from someone who worked with fir or pine trees. Therefore, it could refer to a farmer who grew the trees, a lumberjack who worked the forests, or a carpenter who fashioned the wood into objects. Alternatively, it could also have arisen as an unusually descriptive nickname for an individual with a gravelly voice, or a nickname given to someone who lived in a hilly or mountainous area.
The Eppe surname is found in many European countries, including Moldova, Romania, Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands, suggesting that the name has a long history. In the Netherlands, the name is recorded as early as the 17th century, and it is likely to have been present in Europe for many centuries prior.
The Eppe surname might also be found alongside other variants, depending on the location. Those who settled in England may use the form of Epp, Epps, or Eps. Those in Germany may also use the variant Epp.
Generally, anyone with the last name of Eppe is likely to be descended from someone who worked with fir or pine trees in some capacity, with the corresponding surname arising from this. However, in some cases the family name could have a more descriptive or locative origin.
Order DNA origin analysisEppe: Where does the name Eppe come from?
The last name Eppe is most commonly found in Germany and the surrounding regions. The most significant population center is in the city of Hessen, where records indicate it is a relatively common surname. The German language can be traced back to migrations from the old Germanic territories, which gives support to the idea that some of the variations in the last name may have originated in regions outside of Germany.
As of 2021, Eppe is the 3,699th most popular last name on the planet, limited within Germany to the states of Hessen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony, and Saxony Anhalt. Records indicate that this family name is gaining in popularity across the world and Germany is home to the highest concentration of people with this name.
Eppe can also be found outside of Germany. It is particularly common in North America and tends to be most popular in California, Texas, and New York. In addition, the last name is found in arenas of the world such as England, Australia, Scandinavian countries, and South America.
Variations of the surname Eppe
The surname Eppe is an old German surname of noble heritage with various names and spellings. Common variants of the surname Eppe include Eppy, Epp, Eppen, Eppenstein, Eppel, Eppler, Appe, Appel, Eppley, Epply, and Eppich.
The root origins of this surname’s stem from the Latin word “apsis”, which means “bishop”, indicating that this surname is likely associated with a noble Church family.
The spelling derivates can be traced back to old German communities known as Eppenhausen, Eppelheim and Eppenstein. It is believed that the surname Eppe first appears in these communities dating back to the 11th century and have been found in documents such as seals, tombstone inscriptions and documents from the Middle Ages.
The spelling of the surname Eppe has taken various forms over the centuries, starting with “Eppen” as it was originally written, then transitioning to “Epp” when the surname reached the New World.
In modern times, Eppe has become a popular surname all around the world, due to it’s ancient noble roots. It has spread from Germany to Sweden, Canada, The United States, and even to countries like Belgium, The Netherlands, France, Mexico, and Argentina.
The history of the surname Eppe is a testament to it’s endurance over hundreds of years, as well as its importance to various cultures. As the surname has evolved, so has its variants, spellings and various surnames of the same origin.
Famous people with the name Eppe
- Otto Eppe (1890-1951), Romanian-Jewish philosopher.
- Paul Eppe (1877-1947), German mechanical engineer and professor at the Technical University of Munich.
- Charles Eppe (1879-1951), French phycologist credited with launching the field of psychological assessment.
- Einar Eppe (1899-1977), Norwegian politician who served as minister of finance from 1945 to 1950.
- Emil Eppe (1867–1937), German sculptor best known for his miniature sculptures and Christmas ornaments.
- Mathilde Eppe (1860–1930), German opera singer who toured in Europe and North America.
- Benjamin Eppe (1907–1987), a noted Czechoslovakian dancer.
- Emile Eppe (1796–1882), a Belgian architect known for his Neo-Gothic revival style.
- Philippe Eppe (born 1950), a French artist and writer associated with the Nouveaux Réalistes movement.
- William Eppe (fl. 1570–1600), a German composer of the late Renaissance and early Baroque periods.