Hopper
Usually an occupational surname from a dancer or leaper, though some families may also be linked to Hope or Hoppe.
The #1,281 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 11,287 Americans shares it.
Etymology
This surname is most often explained from the Old English word hoppere, meaning a dancer or leaper, especially someone who performed at fairs, festivals, or weddings. That fits medieval forms such as Le Hoppar and Le Hoppere, which look like occupational bynames. Some sources also treat Hopper as a variant of Hope or Hoppe in certain lineages, so not every family will share the same origin.
History
The name is documented in medieval England, and the occupational sense seems to have been established early. Later surname dictionaries also connect Hopper with related forms such as Hope and Hoppe, showing that the spelling and origin could vary by family and region. In modern times Hopper became well known in English-speaking countries and spread widely, especially to North America.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
A medieval byname like le Hopper could literally describe someone who danced publicly at fairs and festivals.
From the historical record
“HOPPE. Probably the same as Hope, HOPPER. A-Sax. hoppere, a dancer. Le Hoppar, Le Hopper, Le Hoppere. H.R. HOPPING. Perhaps Hoppen, a town- ship in Northumberland, HOPPRINGLE. From the estate so called in the S. of Scotl. (Roxburghshire ?) The first syllable was dropped in the XVII. cent., and the name has since…”
— Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom