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Piper History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Piper History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland

Etymology of Piper

What does the name Piper mean?

The people known in ancient Scotland as the Picts were the forefathers of the Piper family. It is a name for a person who played the bagpipes. "Anciently the name of Pyper was very frequent in Perth, and very Considerable Persons are called by that name in the Charters of the Religious Houses. About the time of the Reformation, the principal Families of that name changed it for Balneaves." 1

Early Origins of the Piper family

The surname Piper was first found in at Innerbundy in Aberdeenshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Obar Dheathain), a historic county, and present day Council Area of Aberdeen, located in the Grampian region of northeastern Scotland.

However, the family is not exclusively Scottish. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list Henry le Pipere, Oxfordshire; and Adam le Piper, Cambridgeshire.

Peter le Pipre, was listed in the Close Roll, 4 Edward I (during the fourth year of King Edward I's reign.)

"Whether this was the Peter Piper who originated the alliterative nursery rhyme, 'Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppercorns,' I cannot say." 2

In Somerset, John le Pipere, and were both listed there 1 Edward III. 3

Much farther to the south in the manor of Liskeard Coleshill was "vested in the Pypers, from whom it passed in marriage with a female heir to the Vyvyans." 4

Early History of the Piper family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Piper research. Another 303 words (22 lines of text) covering the years 1457, 1546, 1547, 1562, 1565, 1567, 1596, 1609, 1610, 1667 and 1672 are included under the topic Early Piper History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Piper Spelling Variations

When the first dictionaries were invented in the last few hundred years, spelling gradually became standardized. Before that time, scribes spelled according to sound. Names were often recorded under different spelling variations every time they were written. Piper has been written Piper, Pyper and others.

Early Notables of the Piper family

Notable amongst the Clan at this time was

Sir John Piper

Piper World Ranking

In the United States, the name Piper is the 1,298^th most popular surname with an estimated 22,383 people with that name. 5 However, in Australia, the name Piper is ranked the 821^st most popular surname with an estimated 4,799 people with that name. 6 And in New Zealand, the name Piper is the 818^th popular surname with an estimated 894 people with that name. 7 The United Kingdom ranks Piper as 837^th with 8,073 people. 8

Piper migration to the United States +

The crossing to North America did not seem so great in comparison with the hardships many Scots endured at home. It was long, expensive, and cramped, but also rewarding. North America offered land and the chance for settlers to prove themselves in a new place. And many did prove themselves as they fought to forge a new nation in the American War of Independence. The ancestors of those Scots can now experience much of their once-lost heritage through the Clan societies and highland games that have sprung up across North America in the last century. A search of immigration and passenger lists revealed many important, early immigrants to North America bearing the name of Piper:

Piper Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

James Piper, who settled in Virginia in 1623
James Vocat Piper, who arrived in Virginia in 1623 9
John Piper, who settled in Virginia in 1637
Ann Piper, who landed in Maryland in 1655 9
Nathaniel Piper, who arrived in Ipswich, Massachusetts in 1666 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Piper Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Natt Piper, who landed in Virginia in 1703 9
Mary Piper, who landed in Virginia in 1713 9
Joseph Piper, aged 26, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1748 9
Bernard Piper, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1753 9
John Michael Piper, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1764 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Piper Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Samuel Piper, who landed in New York, NY in 1811 9
Stepn Piper, who arrived in America in 1830 9
Trina Piper, who landed in North America in 1832-1849 9
Count August Piper who arrived in New York in 1837
George Piper, aged 33, who landed in Missouri in 1844 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Piper Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Mr. William Piper, (b. 1862), aged 41, Cornish miner, from Camborne, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Umbria" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 26th July 1903 en route to Butte, Montana, USA 10
Mr. William Piper, (b. 1866), aged 39, Cornish carpenter travelling aboard the ship "St Louis" arriving at Ellis Island, New York in 1905 en route to Emory, Montana, USA 10
Ida Auguste Wilhelmine Piper, who landed in Chile in 1912 9

Piper migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Piper Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. William Piper U.E. who settled in Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1784 member of the Cape Ann Association 11

Piper Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Hiram Piper, who arrived in Canada in 1834
Mr. Henry Piper, aged 60 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Jessie" departing 18th April 1847 from Limerick, Ireland; the ship arrived on 26th June 1847 but he died on board 12
Jennings Piper, aged 33, who landed in Montreal in 1848
Maria Piper, aged 30, who arrived in Montreal in 1848
Harriet Piper, aged 7, who arrived in Montreal in 1848
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Piper migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Piper Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. James Piper, English labourer who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Fanny" on 25th August 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 13
Mr. Thomas Piper, British Convict who was convicted in London, England for life, transported aboard the "Batavia" in October 1817, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 14
Mr. James Piper, English convict who was convicted in Chester, Cheshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 22nd September 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 15
Miss Elizabeth Piper who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Edward" on 23rd April 1834, arriving in Tasmania, (Van Diemen's Land) 16
John Piper, English convict from Suffolk, who was transported aboard the "Arab" on February 22, 1834, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 17
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Piper migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Piper Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Thomas Piper, (b. 1814), aged 27, British bricklayer travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Lord William Bentinck" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 24th May 1841 18
Mrs. Mary Anne Piper, (b. 1817), aged 24, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Lord William Bentinck" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 24th May 1841 18
Mr. Piper, (b. 1840), aged 8 months, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Lord William Bentinck" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 24th May 1841 18
Mr. Piper, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Olympus" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 20th April 1841 19
William Piper, aged 23, a carpenter, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Clifton" in 1842
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Piper migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 20

Piper Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

John Piper, who settled in Barbados in 1675

Contemporary Notables of the name Piper (post 1700) +

Edwin Ford Piper (1871-1939), American poet, instructor, and collector of over 828 folk songs in his lifetime
Charles Vancouver Piper (1867-1926), Canadian-born, American botanist and agriculturalist, founding member of the American Society of Agronomy in 1907
Martha C. Piper OC OBC, American President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of British Columbia
William Thomas Piper (1881-1970), American airplane manufacturer, and founder of Piper Aircraft, posthumously inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 1980
Henry Beam Piper (1904-1964), American science fiction author
Adrian Margaret Smith Piper (b. 1948), award-winning American conceptual artist and philosopher
Ed S. Piper, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Secretary of State of Oregon, 1928 21
Daniel Piper, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 1964 21
Dale H. Piper, American politician, Burgess of Blairsville, Pennsylvania, 1960 21
Benjamin Piper, American politician, Village President of Naperville, Illinois, 1925 21
... (Another 38 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Piper family +

Bismarck

Werner Piper (1919-1941), German Matrosengefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 22

HMS Hood

Mr. Fred H Piper (b. 1915), English Ordinary Signalman serving for the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve from Whorlton, Northumberland, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 23

RMS Lusitania

Mr. John T. Piper, English Chief Officer from Liverpool, England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking and was recovered 24

Citations +

Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 92)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/batavia
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 10th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th January 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/edward
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2015, January 8) Arab voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1834 with 230 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/arab/1834
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 21) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 7) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/