Harp Family History

English: habitational name from any of several minor places called Harp, for example, South Harp in South Petherton (Somerset) or Harp House in Eastwood (Essex), named with Middle English harp ‘harp, place where the harp was played, feature shaped like a harp’. In some cases, the name might also be habitational referring to a house bearing the sign of a harp.

English: occupational name for a harpist or perhaps someone who made harps. The Middle English word harp(e) denoted the musical instrument but also a harp-shaped implement for sifting and cleansing salt.

Compare Harper. German: metonymic occupational name for a harpist from Middle High German harpfe ‘harp’. German: variant of Harpe.