Surname Cuyper - Meaning and Origin
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Cuyper: What does the surname Cuyper mean?
The surname Cuyper is a Dutch toponymic surname derived from the Old Dutch word kuper, meaning "cooper," or barrel maker. The term was likely originally used to describe a family of barrel makers. While the name may have evolved as a surname among artisans, over time it has also been adopted by families who had no direct occupational links to cooperage.
The Cuyper surname is most commonly found in the Netherlands, Belgium, and several other countries in Northern Europe. It is a relatively widespread name, with multiple variants such as Cuijpers, Kuipers, Kuyvers, Kuypers, and Cuyvers, depending on the country.
The Cuyper name has been especially prominent in the Netherlands, due to the number of Dutch immigrants who have settled in the United States and Canada. According to records, the first Cuyper to arrive in the New World was likely Jan Cuyper, who set sail from Rotterdam in 1856 and eventually made his way to Chicago.
Today, the Cuypers have spread throughout the world, and there are many branches of the family in different countries. Although some of the family is still linked to cooperage, others have gone on to explore different professions, such as architecture, engineering, and medicine. Despite the diversity of their occupations, the Cuypers remain a close-knit family, with a strong sense of identity and tradition.
Order DNA origin analysisCuyper: Where does the name Cuyper come from?
The last name Cuyper is most common in the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. It is an old variant spelling of the Dutch name, Kuyper, which means "cooper" or "barrel maker". It is believed that the name originated among the Dutch artisans who were, at one time, among the most skilled makers of wooden cooper.
The name is still common in the Netherlands and in its former colonies such as the Dutch East Indies, Indonesia, Suriname, and Dutch Guyana today. It is also found in the French-speaking region of Belgium, and northern and eastern France. It is not common in other areas, but it is not uncommon to find Cuypers in the U.S., South America, or other locations around the world.
The modern spelling for the name in the Netherlands, Kuyper, is more common, although the spelling Cuyper is still used on occasion. In other countries, the spelling Cuyper or Kuyper is more common, so it is unclear which spelling originated first. The name is often used to create surnames like Cuypers, Kuypers, Cuijpers, and others.
Overall, the last name Cuyper is most common in the Netherlands, Belgium, and France, but families who have carried this name may also be found in many other areas worldwide.
Variations of the surname Cuyper
Variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Cuyper include Kuyper, Kuijper, Kuypers, Koijper, Kooyper, Kuypers, Kuypers, Koeijpers, Kooijpers, Koeijer, Koeyper, and Kuijer.
The surname Cuyper is derived from the Frisian (a Dutch dialect) term for “coopers” or “barrel makers”, who were makers of wooden vessels. Cuyper and its variants were likely established in the Netherlands, and many Dutch settlers, especially in the Northeastern states in America, brought the name to the United States.
In the Netherlands, the surname Cuyper is most commonly found in the provinces of North Holland (where it is the 28th most common surname) and Friesland (where it is 32nd most common). It is also found in small numbers in Utrecht, Gelderland, and Zuid-Holland.
In the United States, Cuyper was the 5,361st most common surname in the 2000 census. In the same year, Kuyper was 1,162nd while Kuypers & Kuypers were 4,462nd and 4,983rd respectively. Koijper, Kooyper, Koeijpers, Kooijpers, Koeijer, Koeyper, and Kuijer were ranked around 10,000 or lower.
In Germany, Kuipers is the 368th most common surname, and there is a small amount of people with this name in Belgium as well.
The related Dutch-language terms of “Kuiper(s)”, “Keijper(s), and “Kuijer(s)” also exist, and it is important to note that they might or might not be of the same origin/related to the Cuyper/Kuyper surname.
Famous people with the name Cuyper
- Naessens Gerd Cuyper: Belgian metal sculptor.
- Tom Cuyper: Belgian footballer who plays as a forward.
- Paul Cuyper: Dutch artist and sculptor.
- Yvonne Cuyper-Terlouw: Dutch author of psychological and medical thrillers.
- Andrew Cuyper: American actor and producer.
- Aaron Cuyper: Canadian politician from Liquor Control Board of Ontario.
- Pierre Cuyper: Belgian painter.
- Hans Cuyper: Dutch art historian and journalist.
- Pieter-Paul Cuyper: Dutch printmaker, draftsman and photographer.
- Peter Hendrik Cuyper: Dutch lawyer, judge and historian.