Harp Family History

English and Scottish: metonymic occupational name for a harpist (see Harper), or occasionally a habitational name for someone living at a house distinguished by the sign of a harp. English: habitational name from a minor place such as Harp House in Eastwood, Essex, or South Harp in South Petherton, Somerset, denoting a place where salt was produced, from Old English hearpe ‘harp’, an implement used in the processing of salt. Compare Harpham. German: metonymic occupational name for a harpist, from Middle High German harpfe ‘harp’. German: variant of Harpe.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press