Surname Zappe - Meaning and Origin
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Zappe: What does the surname Zappe mean?
The last name Zappe is of German, Swiss-German, and Prussian origin and is believed to have originated in the Middle Ages. It is thought to have derived from medieval personal names, such as Zappa or Zappo. The name is believed to have been an occupational surname that referred to a shoesmith.
The name Zappe is made up of two elements; the suffix "-e" and the root "Zapp". The suffix "-e" is thought to have originally been derived from the Old Germanic suffix "-a", meaning "son of". The root "Zapp" is believed to come from the Middle High German "zaban", meaning "last", likely in reference to making shoes last longer.
Variations of the Zappe surname have been found throughout Europe, including Zappen, Zapp, Zappel, and Zaepfel. The surname is fairly rare in the United States; however, it is more common in certain areas of Europe such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
To sum up, the last name Zappe is believed to have originated in the Middle Ages and is of German, Swiss-German, and Prussian origin. It is thought to be an occupational surname referring to a shoesmith and is composed of two elements; the suffix "-e" and the root "Zapp". Variations of the name can be found throughout Europe and it is fairly rare in the United States.
Order DNA origin analysisZappe: Where does the name Zappe come from?
The last name Zappe is found mostly in Germany, especially in the region near Bavaria. There are small pockets of Zappes in other countries such as Austria, Switzerland, and the United States, but most tend to originate from the German area.
While it is a Germanic surname, it is not as widespread or common as other German surnames. Even within Germany, it is mainly known in the Bavarian region. The history of the Zappe family is not well-documented, but research suggests they originated near the Alps from the Alsace region.
In the United States, the Zappe surname can be found in several states, with the highest concentration living in California and Illinois. It is assumed that a small number of people with the surname immigrated from Germany to the United States.
Any family with the Zappe last name is likely to be very small, with a good majority living in Germany. Those with ties to the German region where the Zappes originate from can trace their ancestry back centuries to the lands around Bavaria and Alsace.
Variations of the surname Zappe
The surname Zappe originates from Germany. It has several variants, spellings, and surnames with the same origin.
Variants of the surname include Sap, Zappa, Sapo, Sapp, Zapp, and Sappe. The spellings which are derived from the surname include Zap, Saep, Sapph, and Zeppe.
Surnames sharing the same origin are Zepp, Sapienza, Zappala, Zeppel, and Zeppenfeld.
The surname Zappe may also be spelled in a variety of other ways, such as Zeppi, Zeppenfelt, Zepper, Zeppezauer, Zeppoh, Zeppol, Zeppellin, and Zippe.
The spelling variation of the surname is thought to be related to the alternate dialects and local pronunciations of each area. In Germany, the variation in spelling often occurs because the pronunciations between different parts of the country differ. So the same surname can be spelled slightly differently in different parts of Germany.
Moreover, the Germanic dialects were formerly written using a form of Latinized spelling called Old German Script, which also goes some way to explaining the variety in spelling of the surname.
The surname Zappe has been around in Germany since at least the 11th century. It is thought to have been derived from the baptismal name Zapp. Baptismal names were often derived from the Christian name and were used to identify a person’s occupation, social status, and geographical location.
Famous people with the name Zappe
- Pat Zappe: former professional American football running back
- Dave Zappe: former American basketball player
- Ewa Zappe: Polish diver
- Michael Zappe: former German footballer
- Eric Zappe: German sprint canoeist
- Kevin Zappe: American football tight end
- Frank Zappe: American engineer and inventor
- John Zappe: Creative Director and founder of the U.S.motocross apparel line LYNXT
- John A. Zappe: American business executive
- Toni Zappe: former American football defensive back