Harper (name)
Harper is an English, Scottish, and Irish surname that is also commonly used as a unisex given name in the United States.
In some cases, the surname originated from an occupational name, and is derived from the Middle English harper, harpere. In other cases, the surname is derived from the Norman le Harpur. The surname can also be derived from the Gaelic Mac Chruiteir.
Harper is also the Anglicization of the German family name Härpfer, also meaning "harper".
Harper was among the five most popular names for White newborn girls in the American state of Virginia in 2022. it was the tenth most popular name nationally for newborn girls in the United States in 2021. It has also increased in usage as a name for girls elsewhere in the Anglosphere. In 2022, it was the 34th most popular name given to girls in Canada.
Surname
A
- Aaron Harper (disambiguation), multiple people
- Adam Harper, British mathematician
- Adam Harper, English professional boxer
- Adrian Harper, Irish footballer
- Alan Harper (disambiguation), multiple people
- Alec Harper, British soldier
- Alexander Harper (disambiguation), multiple people
- Alvin Harper, American football player
- Andrew Harper (disambiguation), multiple people
- Andy Harper, Australian footballer
- Anna McCune Harper, American tennis player
- Anne Harper, British community organiser and activist
- Arthur Cyprian Harper, American politician
B
- Bambi Harper, Filipino writer and socialite
- Ben Harper (disambiguation), multiple people
- Bert Harper, Australian rules footballer
- Beverley Harper, Australian author
- Billy Harper, American jazz saxophonist
- Bobby Harper, Scottish footballer
- Brandon Harper, American baseball player
- Brett Harper, American baseball player
- Brian Harper, American baseball player
- Brian Harper (engineer), Australian engineer
- Brian Harper (priest), Irish priest
- Bruce Harper, American footballer
- Bryan Harper (disambiguation), multiple people
- Bryce Harper, American baseball player
C
- Chandler Harper, American golfer
- Charles Harper (disambiguation), multiple people
- Charley Harper, American artist and illustrator
- Charlie Harper (disambiguation), multiple people
- Chris Harper (disambiguation), multiple people
- Clifford Harper, English anarchist and cartoonist
- C. Michael Harper, American businessman
- Colin Harper (disambiguation), multiple people
- Cullen Harper, American football player
D
- Daniel Harper (disambiguation), multiple people
- Darrell Harper, American football player
- Daryl Harper, Australian Test cricket umpire
- David Harper (disambiguation), multiple people
- Dawn Harper, American athlete
- Dawn Harper (doctor), British television presenter
- Demonte Harper, American basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
- Dennis Harper, American businessman
- Dennis Harper (footballer), English footballer
- Dent Harper, New Zealand cricketer
- Derek Harper, American basketball player
- Deveron Harper, American football player
- Devin Harper, American football player
- D. J. Harper, American football player
- Don Harper, Australian composer
- Don L. Harper, American composer and conductor
- Donald Harper, American diver
- Donald C. Harper, Canadian politician
- Douglas Harper, American historian
- Dwayne Harper, American football player
- Dylan Harper, American basketball player
E
- Ed Harper, Canadian politician
- Edward Harper (disambiguation), multiple people
- Ella Harper, American circus freak known as "The Camel Girl"
- Elijah Harper, Canadian politician
- Elodie Harper, English author and news reporter
- Emily Harper, American actress
- Emma Harper, Scottish politician
- Erastus Harper, American politician
- Eric Harper, New Zealand rugby union footballer
- Ernie Harper, English athlete
- Ethel Ernestine Harper, American actress and singer
F
- F. A. Harper, American university professor
- Fletcher Harper, American publisher
- Frances Harper, American abolitionist and poet
- Francis Harper (disambiguation), multiple people
- Frank Harper, English actor and producer
- Frederick Harper, New Zealand cricketer
G
- Gavin Harper, British technology writer
- George Harper (disambiguation), multiple people
- Gerald Harper, English actor
- Glenn Harper, Canadian football player
- Glyn Harper, New Zealand military historian
- Goodloe Harper Bell, American teacher and educator
- Graeme Harper, English television director
- Graeme Harper (writer), British writer and critic
- Gregg Harper, American politician
H
- Harold Harper (disambiguation), multiple people
- Harry Harper (disambiguation), multiple people
- Heather Harper, Irish operatic soprano
- Helen Elaine Harper, American painter
- Henry Harper (disambiguation), multiple people
- Herbert Harper (cricketer), English cricketer and umpire
- Herbert Reah Harper, Australian electrical engineer
- Herbie Harper, American jazz trombonist
- Hill Harper, American actor
I
- Ian Harper, Australian economist
- Ida Husted Harper, American author
- Irving Harper, American industrial designer
J
- Jacey Harper, Trinidadian sprinter
- Jack Harper (disambiguation), multiple people
- James Harper (disambiguation), multiple people
- Jamie Harper, American football player
- Jared Harper, American basketball player
- J. C. Harper, American football coach
- Jeremy Harper (record holder), American Guinness World Record holder
- Jerry Harper, American basketball player
- Jesse Harper, American basketball coach
- Jessica Harper, American actress and producer
- Jill R. Harper, American molecular biologist and policy advisor
- John Harper (disambiguation), multiple people
- Jon Harper, English musician
- Joseph Harper (disambiguation), multiple people
- Josh Harper, American football player
- Justin Harper (disambiguation), multiple people
K
- Kalenna Harper, American singer-songwriter
- Kate Harper (disambiguation), multiple people
- Keith Harper (disambiguation), multiple people
- Kellie Harper, American basketball player and coach
- Kelly Harper, American recording artist
- Ken Harper (disambiguation), multiple people
- Kenton Harper, American printer
- Kevin Harper, Scottish footballer
- Kristine C. Harper, American historian of meteorology
L
- Laura Harper (cricketer), English cricketer
- Laura Harper (basketball), American basketball player
- Laurie Harper, Australian cricketer
- Lee Harper, English footballer and manager
- Leni Harper, Scottish actress
- Lloyd Harper, Guyanese cricketer
- Louis Harper (disambiguation), multiple people
- Lubbie Harper Jr., Justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court
- Luellyn Harper, American costume designer
- Luke Harper, American wrestler
- Lynne Harper, Canadian murder victim
M
- Madre Harper, American football player
- Marcus Harper II, American football player
- Margaret Harper, American army nurse
- Margaret Hilda Harper, Australian pediatrician
- Mark Harper (disambiguation), multiple people
- Martha Matilda Harper, Canadian-born American entrepreneur
- Marvin Harper, South African field hockey player
- Mary C. Harper, American politician and educator
- Melinda Harper, Australian artist
- Michael Harper (disambiguation), multiple people
- Mitch Harper, American politician
- Morgan Harper, New Zealand rugby league player
N
- Nat Harper, Australian politician
- Nathan Harper, American police officer
- Nick Harper (disambiguation), multiple people
- Norman Harper, British journalist
P
- Patricia Harper (disambiguation), multiple people
- Peter Harper (disambiguation), multiple people
- Philip Harper (disambiguation), multiple people
R
- Ray Harper (disambiguation), multiple people
- Reg Harper, Canadian politician
- Rhonda Harper, American surfer and surf coach
- Rinelle Harper, Canadian activist
- Rob Harper, British musician
- Robert Harper (disambiguation), multiple people
- Robin Harper, Scottish politician
- Rod Harper, American football player
- Roger Harper, Guyanese cricketer
- Roger Harper (American football), American football player
- Roland Harper, American football player
- Roly Harper, English footballer
- Roman Harper, American football player
- Ron Harper (disambiguation), multiple people
- Rory Harper, American writer
- Roy Harper (disambiguation), multiple people
- Ruth Harper, American politician
- Ryan Harper (disambiguation), multiple people
S
- Saige Harper, American Paralympic rower
- Sam Harper, American writer
- Sam Harper (cricketer), Australian cricketer
- Samuel Harper (disambiguation), multiple people
- Sarah Harper (disambiguation), multiple people
- Scott Harper (disambiguation), multiple people
- Shane Harper, American actor
- Shannon Harper, American author
- Shawn Harper, American football player
- Skinny Bobby Harper, American disc jockey
- Stephen Harper (disambiguation), multiple people
- Susan Harper (disambiguation), multiple people
- Sylvia Lance Harper, Australian tennis player
T
- Tanisha Harper, Japanese-American model
- Ted Harper, English footballer
- Terri Harper, British boxer
- Terry Harper, Canadian former ice hockey player
- Terry Harper (baseball), American baseball player
- Tess Harper, American actress
- Thomas Harper (disambiguation), multiple people
- Toni Harper, American singer and actress
- Travis Harper, American baseball player
V
- Valerie Harper, American actress
- Vern Harper, Canadian activist
- Virginia Harper, American activist
W
- Wally Harper, American composer
- Walt Harper, American jazz pianist
- Walter Harper (disambiguation), multiple people
- Warren Harper, American football coach
- William Harper (disambiguation), multiple people
- Willie Harper, American football player
- Winard Harper, American drummer
- Winifred Harper, American author
- Winnifred Harper Cooley, American author
People with the given name
- Harper Goff, American musician
- Harper LeBel, American football player
- Harper Lee, American novelist
- Harper MacKay, American pianist and composer
- Harper Phillips, American alpine skier
- Harper Simon, American singer-songwriter
- Harper Watters, American ballet dancer
- Harper Williams, American basketball player
Fictional characters with the surname
- Several characters in the American sitcom Mama's Family:
- * Ellen Harper
- * Naomi Harper
- * Thelma Harper
- * Vinton "Vint" Harper
- Several characters in the British sitcom My Family:
- * Ben Harper
- * Janey Harper
- * Michael Harper (My Family)
- * Nick Harper
- * Susan Harper (My Family)
- Several characters in the American sitcom Two and a Half Men:
- * Alan Harper (Two and a Half Men)
- * Charlie Harper (Two and a Half Men)
- * Evelyn Harper (Two and a Half Men)
- * Jake Harper (Two and a Half Men)
- Ben "Beanie" Harper, character in the television series Love of Life
- Cally Harper Ewing, character in the television series Dallas
- David Harper (General Hospital), character in the television series General Hospital
- Dick Harper, character in the 1977 film Fun with Dick and Jane and the 2005 remake
- Harry Harper (Casualty), character in the television series Casualty
- Holly Harper, character in the television series Brothers & Sisters
- Jack Harper (disambiguation), several characters
- Jane Harper, character in the 1977 film Fun with Dick and Jane and the 2005 remake
- Jess Harper, character from the 1958 NBC Western series Laramie. Played by Robert Fuller.
- Joe Harper, character in the novel The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
- Johnny Harper, character in the television series The O.C.
- Kate Harper (The West Wing), character on the television show The West Wing
- Molly Harper, character in the film Final Destination 5
- Owen Harper, one of the main protagonists in the television series Torchwood
- Patrick Harper (fiction), character in the television series Sharpe
- Sally Harper, character in the BBC comedy Coupling
- Seamus Zelazny Harper, character in the television series Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda
- Steven Harper (Boston Public), character in the television series Boston Public
- Ty Harper, character in the television series Neighbours
- Rebecca Harper, character in the television series Brothers & Sisters
- Roy Harper (character), DC Comics character
- Wade Harper, character in two episodes of Walker, Texas Ranger. Played by Robert Fuller.
- Will Harper, character in the television series EastEnders
- William Harper Littlejohn, character in the Doc Savage novels by Lester Dent
- Mike Harper, character in the video game Call of Duty Black Ops II
Fictional characters with the given name
- Harper Avery, surgeon that the Harper Avery Award is named after and grandfather of Jackson Avery in Grey's Anatomy
- Harper Coleman, the daughter of Anna Coleman in Freakier Friday
- Harper Connelly, title character of The Harper Connelly Mysteries novels by Charlaine Harris
- Harper Dearing, businessman-turned-terrorist and main villain in the 10th season of NCIS
- Harper Decker Simmons, character in the film Parental Guidance
- Harper Pitt, character in the Pulitzer Prize winning Angels in America
- Harper Finkle, character in the sitcom Wizards of Waverly Place
- Harper Lee Burgess, supporting character in the sitcom Girl Meets World
- Harper Stanhope, character in Lost
- Harper Whitley, character in the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street
- Harper Burke, the eldest child and ten-year-old daughter of Audrey Burke and the late Brian Burke, in Things We Lost in the Fire
- Harper Stern, character in the HBO finance drama series Industry
- Harper Stewart, character in the 1999 film The Best Man
- Harper, one of two twin sisters of the Trial Captain Lana in Pokémon Sun and Moon
- Harper, character in 2020 film Happiest Season
- Harper Marlowe, main character in 2022 horror film ''Men''