Leeper
An English surname most likely linked to the old name Lepper, itself related to the skin condition “leprosy” or a nickname for a leper.
The #5,281 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 46,829 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Leeper is generally treated as a spelling variant of Lepper. In older English, that name is connected with Middle English words for a leper or someone affected by leprosy, so it likely began as a descriptive nickname. The exact path of spelling is not always clear, and some forms may also reflect regional pronunciation or later alteration of the surname.
History
The name is found in English records by the 16th century, and Bardsley notes an early form that looks like Lepei/Leper in a 1567 record. Over time, surnames of this type often became stable family names long after the original descriptive sense had faded. The modern spelling Leeper is now especially familiar in English-speaking countries, including the United States.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Bardsley thought the spelling may have been altered to make the name look less objectionable, which is a reminder that surnames often changed for social reasons as well as linguistic ones.
From the historical record
“to throw it off as objectionable. Hence, probably, the deceptive- looking Leeper. 1567. ThomM Lepei, of Oier Kellet : Lajuxabire Wilb at Richmoad (1457- l6Ba), p. lai”
— A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with special American instances