Surname Rapleye - Meaning and Origin

Rapleye: What does the surname Rapleye mean?

The last name Rapleye is believed to be of French origin and is thought to be a form of the name Ramelet which is derived from the Germanic word 'rama', meaning ‘shield.' It is also thought to be a variant of the name Rameleau, derived from the Germanic words 'ram', meaning ‘raven’, and 'hol', meaning ‘wood’, giving the name Rapleye meaning ‘shield in the woods’.

The surname is first found in the late Middle Ages in northern France. It is associated with the pre-1000s period of France’s history known as the Merovingian dynasty, which was the ruling family of the Franks, a Germanic people who had established their own kingdom in what is now northern France and parts of Germany. During this time, the Rapleye family resided in the region of Picardy, France.

Due to political turmoil and changing boundaries in Europe, the Rapleye family eventually left France for England. The first mention of the name Rapleye in England was in the mid-1600s when a William Rapleye migrated to Essex, England. The spelling of the surname has changed many times over the centuries, ranging from Raplye, Raply, and Rapple, to the current spelling of Rapleye.

Today, the Rapleye family can be found all over the world, with a large concentration in the United States. The Rapleye family name is most commonly associated with strength and loyalty, traits that are believed to have been passed down from generation to generation.

Rapleye: Where does the name Rapleye come from?

Rapleye, or rather Reppleye, is a rare surname, but It is more commonly found in the Netherlands than other countries. Records show that a number of Rapleyes have emigrated from the Netherlands to the United States and Canada.

The first Rapleyes were found in the city of Amersfooort, Netherlands in the 16th century. Various branches of the family have been living in the Netherlands since then, with a few members emigrating to the USA and Canada around the middle of the 19th century.

From there, some of them moved on to North America, the West Indies and even Argentina. The surname is more common in the area around Amersfoort, Netherlands, than elsewhere. Records can still be found of Rapleyes living in the Netherlands as recently as the late 20th century.

In the United States, the surname Rapleye can be found scattered across multiple states. The earliest records of the surname in the USA can be found in the mid-19th century. One branch of the family is known to have moved to Canada in the 1820s.

The surname is still alive and well in those places, kept alive by former and current Rapleyes. Even though the name is not as common as other surnames, Rapleyes can still be found in many places around the world.

Variations of the surname Rapleye

The surname Rapleye is most likely of British origin, and appears to be derived from the Old English words raep (rave) and leah (meadow or clearing). Variants of the surname include Raplye, Raply, Rapple, Raplee, Rappley, Raplea, Rappa and Rapplea.

The surname is believed to have been introduced to the British Isles with the movement of the Anglo-Saxon race from the European continent during the fifth century. Through the years, the surname has been subject to number of variants and spellings, and each of these variants are further classified into distinct surnames. Some of these spellings may include: Repley, Reply, Replee, Repolla, Repolla and Repell.

In Scotland, the surname is associated with the spelling Rapslie. In North America, the spelling Rapple has been used. In Yorkshire, England, the spelling Raplee, is seen and the variant spelling Rapley is found in Scotland and the north of England.

Surnames associated with the Rapleye name include: Raplye-Rapplay, Rapsley, Rapylie, Rapalie, Rappaley, Rapsli, and Raptley.

The surname Rapleye is relatively uncommon in the United States. In England, the surname is more widely distributed in the counties of Suffolk, Norfolk, Oxfordshire, Lancashire, Cheshire, Suffolk, Herefordshire and Yorkshire. It is thought to be most prominent in the Midlands counties of Warwickshire and Leicestershire.

Famous people with the name Rapleye

• George Rapleye: George Rapleye is an American animator and voice actor who has worked for various television networks and film studios. Most of his work has been on series such as The Simpsons, Family Guy, Robot Chicken, among others. He is best known for providing the voice of Rick in the animated show King of the Hill.
• Georgene Rapleye: Georgene Rapleye is a prominent American attorney and legal advisor. After beginning her career as an attorney in the entertainment industry, she served as a senior legal advisor to the White House during the Carter and Reagan administrations. She would later go on to become the President and CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America.
• Trevor Rapleye: Trevor Rapleye is an American musician and record producer. He has produced and written for a number of hit artists including Avicii, John Legend, and Mike Posner, among others. As a producer and songwriter he is also credited with helping to catapult artists such as Drake and Justin Bieber to worldwide fame.
• Michael Rapleye: Michael Rapleye is an American hand surgeon and academic researcher. He is most known for pioneering minimally-invasive techniques that make hand surgeries easier and more effective. He also researches the cause and effects of hand arthritis, and has written several scientific papers in the field.
• Dana Rapleye: Dana Rapleye is a music producer and vocal coach who has worked with some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry. She has worked with artists such as Justin Bieber, Mariah Carey, and Post Malone, among others. Her vocal coaching has helped develop and shape many of the world's most recognizable voices.

Other surnames

RapleeRapley