Surname Napier - Meaning and Origin

Unveiling Napier Lineage: A Fascinating DNA Journey into My Ancestral Past

Recent DNA test at iGENEA has revealed fascinating revelations about my Napier ancestors, connecting them to ancient tribes, migrations and unexpected geographies. These insights have fundamentally reshaped my understanding of my genetic heritage and identity.

B. Napier

Napier: What does the surname Napier mean?

The surname Napier is believed to derive from the Old French term “nappier” meaning linen keeper, a position usually associated with the most senior servant of a noble household, presumably responsible for the household's linen and clothing. There are also claims that its origin could be Scottish. The name was supposedly given to a noble who held lands at the location of Edinburgh in the 13th century. That person, upon his return from the Crusades, adopted the new name Napier, derived from a knight's armor part called a "nape," or the "plate at the back of a helmet." Regardless of its source, the name Napier has a long tradition in the United Kingdom and beyond, with notable bearers across various fields such as math, military, politics, sports, and arts.

Napier: Where does the name Napier come from?

The last name Napier is an English surname, thought to have originally been derived from the Scottish name MacNab. It is currently most commonly found in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and England. It is also popular in Australia, New Zealand, North America, and South Africa.

Napier is an old English and Scottish toponymic surname, derived from the name of the town of Napier in Clackmannanshire, Scotland. The name is believed to have originated from the Gaelic MacNab, meaning "son of the abbott". The first recorded use of the surname was by Giovanni di Napier, a canon of St. Paul's cathedral in 1197.

The Napier surname is especially common in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and England. It is the 116th most popular surname in Scotland, the 164th most common in Northern Ireland, and the 139th most popular in England. In the United States, Napier is the 1,694th most popular last name, and it is relatively uncommon in Canada and Australia.

Today, many famous namesakes of the surname Napier can be found around the world. These include inventor John Napier, politician William Napier, singer Michael Napier, fashion designer Bruce Napier, and actor P.C. Napier.

Variations of the surname Napier

Napier is a common English surname of Scottish origin. It is derived from the surname Neper and ultimately comes from the Gaelic personal name Ailpeir. This name is derived from the Gaelic elements ail (rock) and peir (chisel).

Variants and spellings of the surname Napier include Naper, Nayper, Napar, Napire and Napper. All variations are simply different versions of the same name.

Other surnames of similar origin include McPhee, McAfee, and McPherson. The Mc prefix is often found in Scottish last names, and indicates a clan name, or origin in an ancestral home; McPhee, McAfee, and McPherson all derive from the Gaelic personal name Ailpeir.

The names Pepper, Peppar, Pepperdine and Pep disruptions are similar to Napier and originate from the French given name Pepin, which is derived from the Latin pippinus, meaning small.

Napier is also a common family name in Germany. In German, is spelled Naepen, Naeven, Napen, Nappen, Neper and Naepper. It is derived from the given name Nappo, which is of uncertain etymology.

In Spain, the surname Napier appears as Navajas, Navarro and Navascues. It is derived from the Basque word navar, meaning landowner.

In Greek, the last name Napier is spelled Νάπιερ and is derived from the Greek word napeirismos, meaning perfumer.

In Italy the surname Napier is rendered Napiero and is derived from the Latin name Napierus which is a variant of the French name Napier.

The surname Napier is a widespread and diverse name with many spellings, variants, and surname derivatives. It is derived from a variety of different sources and is distributed in many countries.

Famous people with the name Napier

• Alan Napier, Actor (Alfred the Butler from the 1960s TV series Batman)
• Troy Napier, Singer-Songwriter
• Barbara Napier, Actor
• Nelson Napier, Actor
• Hamish Napier, Bagpiper
• Steve Napier, Businessman
• Sid Napier, Film Producer
• Sheila Napier, Actress
• Craig Napier, Musician
• Robert Napier, 1st Baron Napier of Magdala, General
• Rhys Napier, Actor
• Ed Napier, Actor
• Parry Napier, Olympic Rower
• Euan Napier, Businessman
• Sir Charles Napier, General
• Sir George Napier, British General
• William Napier, Writer
• Alvin Napier, Actor
• Harold Napier, Australian Rules Footballer
• William Patrick Napier, 6th Baron Napier of Merchistoun, British Member of Parliament

Other surnames