This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Roper family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Roper Family History

Roper Surname Meaning

English (Yorkshire and Lancashire): occupational name from Middle English roper(e) ‘maker or seller of rope’. See Roop.

North German (Röper): occupational name for a town crier from an agent derivative of Middle Low German rōpen ‘to call’.

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


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Roper family from?

You can see how Roper families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Roper family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Roper families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 873 Roper families living in Yorkshire. This was about 15% of all the recorded Roper's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Roper families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Roper surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Roper 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 Roper. 8% of Roper men worked as a General Labourer and 68% of Roper women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Roper were Farm Labourer and Incapacitated.

View Census Data for Roper | 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
    8%
  • Builders Labourer
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    3%
  • Farm Labourer
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    68%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    2%

What Roper family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 181,000 census records available for the last name Roper. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Roper census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Roper

Passenger Lists

There are 17,000 immigration records available for the last name Roper. 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 Roper immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 26,000 military records available for the last name Roper. For the veterans among your Roper ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Roper military records

You've only scratched the surface of Roper family history

Discover More

What is the average Roper lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Roper life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Roper in 1942 was 48, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Roper

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Roper 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.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Roper family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial