This English, Scottish and Irish surname is based on the occupational name for a player on the harp. From Middle English and Middle Dutch the term harp means ‘harp - musical instrument’. Throughout England, Scotland and Ireland during the Middle Ages, the harp player was very important position with a high ranking. In Scotland the name originated in the Lennox region.

In the 1880s those families with the Harper surname were mostly farmers.

The greatest populations with the surname of Harper come from Ireland, Scotland and England. The counties of Lancashire, Yorkshire and Staffordshire of England have the highest population with the Harper surname.

The states of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, Texas and Georgia have the greatest populations with the surname Harper.

Famous: Shawn Harper (professional football player), Robert Harper (actor), Reg Harper (Canadian politician from Prince Edward Island), Leni Harper (English actress), Kenton Harper (19th century American printer, soldier, banker, newspaper editor and legislator), Gerald Harper (English actor), Ernie Harper (1936 British Olympic silver medalist in marathon), Derek Harper (professional basketball player), Bruce Harper (professional football player with New York Jets), Arthur C. Harper (Mayor of Los Angeles, California from 1906 to 1909) and Althea Harper (fashion designer).