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Napier Family History

Napier Surname Meaning

English and Scottish: occupational name from Old French napier nappier nap(p)er(er) ‘one who looks after the napery or table-linen’ a derivative of Old French nappe ‘table-cloth napkin’. In Middle English Napier and Nap(p)er might also have denoted a maker of table cloths though this sense has not been recorded.

English: alternatively an occupational name from Nap(p)er from an unrecorded Middle English word for one who makes naps i.e. drinking cups or chalices (Middle English nap Old English hnæp). Napper could also be a nickname from Middle English nappere ‘one who sleeps or naps’ though this is the least likely of the alternatives.

American shortened form of Polish Napierala or a similar name.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


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Where is the Napier family from?

You can see how Napier families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Napier family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Napier families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 185 Napier families living in London. This was about 22% of all the recorded Napier's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Napier families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Napier surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Napier ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Napier. 16% of Napier men worked as a General Labourer and 74% of Napier women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Napier were Bricklayer and Incapacitated.

View Census Data for Napier | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    16%
  • Builders Labourer
    9%
  • Carpenter
    7%
  • Bricklayer
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    74%
  • Private Means
    9%
  • Unpaid Household Duties
    2%
  • Incapacitated
    2%

What Napier family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 92,000 census records available for the last name Napier. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Napier census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Napier

Passenger Lists

There are 13,000 immigration records available for the last name Napier. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Napier immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 15,000 military records available for the last name Napier. For the veterans among your Napier ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Napier military records

You've only scratched the surface of Napier family history

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What is the average Napier lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Napier life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1942, and highest in 1963. The average life expectancy for Napier in 1942 was 38, and 71 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Napier

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Napier ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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