Greetings all, While I haven't got references handy, there is a second derivation thought to originate from Scotland where a Harper is one who "harps" or strings a bow - hence an archer. The lore, as I remember it, is that Malcolm III of Scotland created the name for his chief archer - who was a Buchanan before his renaming. The Harpers, from which I decend, came to New Brunswick from Yorkshire in the 1760's but believe themselves to be decended from the above Scots. Belief being what it is... who knows? Stephen At 08:44 PM 99/08/13 EDT, you wrote: >http://www.sifnos.demon.co.uk/history.html > >Harper History (English) >The surname "Harper" is derived from the Old English "Hearpere", Anglo-French >"Harpour", "Harper, one who plays the harp". Early records mention Robert le >Harpur who appears in Hampshire Pipe Rolls in 1186; Henry and Nicholas le >Harpur in Cambridgeshire Hundred Rolls in 1273; Reginald le Harper, in >Worcestershire Subsidy Rolls in 1275; and Rogerus and Wilhelmus Harper in >Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns on 1379. > >Sir William Harper (1496? - 1573) became master of the Merchant Taylor's >Company in 1553, sheriff of London in 1557 and Lord Mayor in 1561. He was >knighted in 1562. He helped to found the Merchant Taylors' School. John >Harper (dies 1742) was an actor, playing at important places such as >Lincoln's Inn Fields and Drury Lane. He was prosecuted In a test action for >vagrancy and was discharged in 1733. Thomas Harper (1787 - 1853), a >trumpet-player, was engaged at Drury Lane and the Lyceum English Opera in >1806 and at Ancient Concerts and Italian Opera in 1821. He was appointed >inspector of musical instruments to the East India Company. James Harper >(1795 - 1879), a theologian, was for sixty years secession minister of North >Leith. He was chairman of the synod in 1840, Secession Church professor of >pastoral theology in 1843 and of systematic theology in 1848. He effected the >union of the Secession and Relief bodies and became moderator of the United >Presbyterian synod in 1860. John Harper (1809 - 1842), an architect, prepared >designs for Apsley House and York House. > > >==== HARPER Mailing List ==== > Aren't you glad you're a supporter of Rootsweb? > Don't we wish everyone could be one too! >http://www.rootsweb.com/rootsweb/how-to-subscribe.html > > - ------------------------------------------------------------------ Stephen Kymlicka / 2333 Robinson St., Regina, SK, S4T 2R3 / [email protected] / "Well, it is an ancient custom, so let them keep it". Herodotus - ------------------------------------------------------------------