TRAPP
Trapp is a surname of German origin that has been in use in England since the mid‑thirteenth century and in German‑speaking regions from the late fourteenth century.
The name is recorded in England under the forms Trapp and Trappe, while in German, Austrian and Swiss contexts it appears as von Trapp, Trapp and Trappe. The root is the Middle High German word trappe, meaning either a "trap" or a steep precipice, and the Old High German trappa, meaning a "step" or "stair". Consequently, the name can be interpreted as a topographic identifier for someone dwelling beside a slope, a habitational tag for inhabitants of places named Trapp, or a nickname for a stubborn or obstinate individual derived from the Middle Low German trapp.
In addition to these descriptive senses, the surname possesses an occupational connotation. The term trapper—someone who sets snares for game or furs—has long been part of the medieval lexicon. Historically, occupational surnames such as Trapp were often not hereditary unless the trade was passed down the family line; a son who entered a different profession might be known by both his vocation and that of his fore‑father. This feature of the name is reflected in the early records where a Henry Trappe is noted in the 1250 Pipe Rolls of Worcester, and a Johannes Trapp appears in Stetbach in 1388.
The earliest linguistic antecedent of the word is the pre‑5th century term traeppe, a survivor of the ancient European language spoken before the separation of the British Isles from the continent some twenty thousand years ago. This long history accounts for the name’s resilience and geographic dispersion from German-speaking Europe to the British Isles.
Within the United Kingdom the name is associated with the English-speaking Christian community and traditionally classed as a toponymic surname, arising from a geographical feature. Its persistence in contemporary records attests to its deep-rooted heritage across both continental and island contexts.
Typical given names associated with the Trapp surname
Male
- Andrew
- Anthony
- Antony
- Charles
- Chris
- Christopher
- David
- George
- James
- John
- Ken
- Nigel
- Peter
- Robert
Female
- Ann
- Christine
- Deborah
- Elizabeth
- Helen
- Jennifer
- Joanna
- Laura
- Melanie
- Sarah
- Sophia
- Susan
- Tina
Similar and related surnames
- Trappe
- Trapper
- Tra
- Thrapp
- Trap
- Trape
- Trappes
- Deoroop
- Drape
- Drapeau
- Dripp
- Droop
- Drop
- Droppa
- Tarap
- Tarp
- Tarpe
- Terp
- Terpe
- Tirp
- Torp
- Torpe
- Torpie
- Torrop
- Trappet
- Trapps
- Traps
- Traup
- Treip
- Trepp
- Trip
- Tripe
- Tripi
- Tripp
- Trippe
- Troop
- Troope
- Trop
- Trope
- Tropea
- Tropia
- Tropp
- Troup
- Troupe
- Trup
- Trupia
- Trupp
- Trype
- Turp
- Turpie
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Trapp in...
Braille
⠞⠗⠁⠏⠏
Morse
-.-..-.--..--.
Semaphore
There are approximately 447 people named Trapp in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around seven in a million people in Britain are named Trapp.
Surname type: Location or geographical feature
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Trapp
- Maria von Trapp - Singer and main subject of the film The Sound of Music (1905 to 1987)
- John Trapp - Theologian (1601 to 1669)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.