Surname Klapper - Meaning and Origin
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Klapper: What does the surname Klapper mean?
The surname Klapper is of German origin. It is derived from the Middle High German word "klap(p)ære" which means "a noisy person" or "one who chatters." However, it might also be an occupational name for a night-watchman, someone who used a rattle as an alert. The word 'klapper' in modern German also refers to a rattle or a noisemaker. Hence, this surname might have been assigned to individuals who were known for either of these characteristics. It is also important to remember that surnames were often born out of nicknames or profession identifications during the Medieval ages, and thus many are descriptive in nature. So the name Klapper could also relate to traits or occupations of early ancestors bearing this name. It usually reminds of a person who is loud, or someone who was employed to keep watch overnight in a village or town and used a rattle to signal danger or awake the residents.
Order DNA origin analysisKlapper: Where does the name Klapper come from?
The surname Klapper originates from Germanic roots. It is derived from the Middle High German term "klappe" meaning "trap" or "hatch". It often referred to a chatterbox or incessant talker, as the word "klappern" also meant "to chatter" in Old German. Another use of the name was to describe a keeper of a town gate, the "klapper", hence it can also be considered an occupational surname.
Klapper can also have a Jewish (Ashkenazic) origin. Jewish surnames didn't really exist until the end of the Middle Ages, so it's likely that this name was adopted at some point as a way to distinguish between people of the same first names.
Today, the surname is most common in the United States, Germany, and South Africa. With immigration and diaspora, people with this surname can be found worldwide. It's worth mentioning that since "Klapper" is not a particularly common surname in these countries, its prevalence is relative.
Variations of the surname Klapper
The surname Klapper appears to have Germanic origins. It might have been derived from the Middle High German word "klapper," referring to a rattle or noisemaker used by lepers, watchmen, and town criers. It could have also referred to someone who lived near a bell tower.
Variants of the surname Klapper could include Klapperich, Klappert, and Klapperman. These variants may have arisen due to regional usage or phonetic spellings over time.
Spelling variations can indeed be plentiful due to issues such as translation and transcription errors. Thus, the name Klapper might also have been spelled as Clapper, Klapprich, Klappert, Clappert, Klapp, Clapp, Klepp, Klaber among others.
As for connected surnames, given the potential occupational origins, it could be related to the names of other trades, such as the German surname Glockner ("bell ringer"). However, it's important to note that surname origins can be complex and overlapping, so definitive connections aren't always possible without specific genealogical research.
Possible Jewish surnames with the same root could be Klapperstein or Klapperstuck, relevant particularly to Ashkenazi Jewish populations in Germany.
Famous people with the name Klapper
- Andy Klapper, professional football player
- Joel Klapper, former professor of religious studies
- Marshall Klapper, philanthropist and investor
- Mark Klapper, Chinese-American actor
- Joshua Klapper, pediatrician
- Dr. Mordecai Klapper, Jewish historian and author
- Louis Klapper, Austrian philosopher
- Daniel Klapper, former FBI agent
- Wendy Klapper, poet
- Ellen Klapper, actress
- David Klapper, Hollywood cinematographer
- Morris Klapper, Nobel prizewinner
- Nathan Klapper, LGBT rights activist
- Erwin Klapper, Austrian historian
- Natan Klapper, American sculptor
- Howard Klapper, poet
- Miriam Klapper, forensic psychologist
- Richard Klapper, auction house specialist
- Lewis Edward Klapper, musician
- Robert Klapper, sports medicine specialist