Harper (name)

Harper is a Scottish family name that is also commonly used as a given name in the United States. The name is believed to have originated in the Dalriadan region of Scotland, especially in the Lennox district, and is associated with Clan Buchanan.

Harper is also the Anglicization of the German family name Härpfer, deriving from playing the musical instrument harp.

People with the surname

• Alan Harper (bishop) (born 1944), English Anglican bishop
• Alan Harper (footballer) (born 1960), English footballer (Association football)
• Alan Harper (American football) (born 1979), American football player
• Alec Harper (1910–2003), British soldier and polo player
• Alexander Harper (disambiguation), several people
• Alvin Harper (born 1968), American footballer (American football)
• Andrew Harper (1844–1936), Scottish-Australian biblical scholar and teacher
• Andrew Harper, pseudonym of Douglas Clegg (born 1958), Australian fantasy author
• Andy Harper (born 1967), Australian footballer (Association football)
• Anna McCune Harper (1902–1999), American tennis player
• Arthur Cyprian Harper (1866–1948), American politician
• Bambi Harper, Filipino writer and socialite
• Barbara Harper, American waterbirth activist
• Ben Harper (politician) (1817–1887), American politician
• Ben Harper (born 1969), American musician
• Ben Eric Harper (born 1980), American musician
• Bert Harper (born 1923), Australian footballer (Australian rules football)
• Bill Harper (baseball) (1889–1951), American baseball player
• Bill Harper (footballer, born 1897) (1897–1989), Scottish footballer (Association football)
• Bill Harper (footballer, born 1900), Scottish footballer (Association football)
• Billy Harper (born 1943), American jazz saxophonist
• Blake Harper (born 1968), Canadian pornographic actor
• Bob Harper (born 1965), American personal trainer
• Bobby Harper (1920–1980), Scottish footballer (Association football)
• Brandon Harper (born 1976), American baseball player
• Brett Harper (born 1981), American baseball player
• Brian Harper (born 1959), American baseball player
• Bruce Harper (born 1955), American footballer (American football)
• Bryan Harper (born 1927), Australian canoer
• Bryce Harper (born 1992), American baseball player
• Chandler Harper (1914–2004), American golfer
• Charles Harper (politician) (1842–1912), Australian politician, pastoralist and newspaper proprietor
• Charles Harper (mayor) (c. 1875–1954), Australian politician and businessman
• Charles Harper (colonial administrator) (1876–1950), English rugby player, soldier, civil servant and politician
• Charles George Harper (1863–1943), English writer and illustrator
• Charles Harper Webb, American poet
• Charley Harper (1922—2007), American artist and illustrator
• Charlie Harper (singer) (born 1944), British punk singer
• Charlie Harper (American football) (born 1944), American footballer (American football)
• Chris Harper (disambiguation), several people
• Clifford Harper (born 1949), English anarchist and cartoonist
• C. Michael Harper (born 1927), American businessman
• Colin Harper (footballer) (born 1946), English footballer and football manager (Association football)
• Colin Harper (born 1968), Irish music journalist
• Cullen Harper (born 1985), American footballer (American football)
• Daniel Harper (headmaster) (died 1895), British university principal
• Daryl Harper (born 1951), Australian Test cricket umpire
• Dave Harper (American football) (born 1966), American footballer (American football)
• David Harper, pseudonym of Edwin Corley (1931–1981), American novelist
• David Harper (biologist), British biologist
• David W. Harper (born 1961), American actor
• Dawn Harper (born 1984), American athlete
• Dawn Harper (doctor), British doctor and television presenter
• Dennis Harper, American businessman
• Dennis Harper (footballer) (born 1936), English footballer (Association football)
• Dent Harper (1937–1997), New Zealand cricketer
• Derek Harper (born 1961), American basketballer
• Deveron Harper (born 1977), American football player
• D. J. Harper (born 1989), American footballer (American football)
• Don Harper (1921–1999), Australian composer
• Don L. Harper, American composer and conductor
• Douglas Harper, American historian, journalist and author
• Dwayne Harper (born 1966), American footballer (American football)
• Ed Harper (born 1931), Canadian politician
• Edith Harper, pseudonym of Anna Wickham (1884–1947), British poet and feminist
• Edward Harper (engineer), British-Sri Lankan engineer
• Edward Eugene Harper (born 1946), American criminal
• Edward John Harper (1910–1990), American bishop
• Elijah Harper (born 1949), Canadian politician and Aboriginal Cree band chief
• Emily Harper (born 1978), American actress
• Erastus Harper, American politician
• Eric Harper, (1877–1918), New Zealand rugby union player
• Ernie Harper (1902–1979), English athlete
• Ethel Ernestine Harper (1903–1979), American actress and singer
• Fletcher Harper (1806–1877), American publisher
• F. A. Harper (1905–1973), American university professor
• Frances Harper (1825–1911), American abolitionist and poet
• Francis Harper (biologist) (1886–1972), American naturalist
• Francis Jacob Harper (1800–1837), American politician from Pennsylvania
• Frank Harper (born 1962), English actor and producer
• Gavin Harper (born 1986), British technology writer
• George Harper (cricketer, born 1865) (1865–?), English cricketer
• George Harper (cricketer, born 1988), American born English cricketer
• George Harper (pitcher) (1866–1931), American baseball player
• George Harper (outfielder) (1892–1978), American baseball player
• George Montague Harper (1865–1922), British military general
• Gerald Harper (born 1928), American long term mayor (1976–1996 Lawrenceville, Illinois)
• Gerald Harper (born 1929), English actor
• Gisèle Côté-Harper, Canadian law professor and human rights activist
• Goodloe Harper Bell (1832–1899), American teacher and educator
• Graeme Harper (born 1945), English television director
• Graeme Harper (writer), British writer and critic
• Gregg Harper (born 1956), American politician from Mississippi
• Hannah Harper (born 1982), English pornographic actress and director
• Harry Harper 1895-1963, American baseball player
• Heather Harper (born 1930), Irish operatic soprano
• Henry Harper (disambiguation), several people
• Herbert Harper (1889–1983), English cricketer and umpire
• Herbert Reah Harper (1871-1956), Australian electrical engineer
• Herbie Harper (born 1920), American jazz trombonist
• Hill Harper (born 1966), American film, television and stage actor
• Ian Harper, Australian economist
• Ida Husted Harper (1851–1931), American author, journalist and suffragette
• Irving Harper (1916–2015), American industrial designer
• Jack Harper (disambiguation), several people
• Jamie Harper (born 1989), American footballer (American football)
• James Harper (congressman) (1780–1873), American politician from Pennsylvania
• James Harper (publisher) (1795–1869), American publisher
• James Harper (actor), (born 1948), American actor
• James Harper (footballer) (born 1980), English footballer (Association football)
• James C. Harper (1819–1890), American politician from North Carolina
• James Harper McDonald (1900–1973), American deep sea diver
• James Harper Prowse (1913–1976), Canadian lawyer and politician
• James Harper Starr (1809–1890), American civil servant
• James Harper-Orr (1878–1956), Scottish cricketer and hockey player
• Jacey Harper (born 1980), Trinidadian sprinter
• J. C. Harper, American coach (American football)
• Jeremy Harper, American Guinness World Record holder
• Jerry Harper (1934–2001), American basketball player
• Jesse Harper (1883–1961), American coach (American football, basketball, and baseball)
• Jessica Harper (born 1949), American actress and producer, singer and author of children's music and books
• Joe Harper (born 1948), Scottish footballer (Association football)
• John Harper (pastor) (1872–1912), British pastor
• John Harper (politician) (died 2001), American politician from Kentucky
• John Adams Harper (1779–1816), American politician, New Hampshire member of the House of Representatives (1811–1813)
• John Ernest Harper (1874–1949), British Royal Navy Admiral
• John L. Harper (1925–2009), British biologist
• John Joseph Harper (died 1988), Canadian aboriginal leader
• John Russell Harper (1914–1983), Canadian art historian
• John William Harper (1916–1944), British soldier, recipient of the Victoria Cross
• John Harper Narbeth (1863–1944), British naval architect
• Jon Harper (born 1978), English musician
• Joseph Harper (English politician) (1914–1978), English politician
• Joseph Harper (horse breeder), Australian horse breeder
• Joseph H. Harper (1901–1990), American soldier
• Joseph M. Harper (1787–1865), American politician from New Hampshire
• Josh Harper (born 1991), American football player
• Justin Harper (American football) (born 1985), American footballer (American football)
• Kalenna Harper (born 1982), American singer-songwriter
• Kate M. Harper, American regional politician from Pennsylvania
• Keith Harper (disambiguation), several people
• Kellie Harper (born 1977), American basketball player and coach
• Kenn Harper, Canadian historian, linguist and businessman
• Kenneth Harper (1913–1998), British film producer
• Kenton Harper (1801–1867), American printer, soldier, banker, newspaper editor and legislator
• Kevin Harper (born 1976), Scottish footballer (Association football)
• Laura Harper (born 1984), English cricketer
• Laura Harper (basketball) (born 1986), American basketball player
• Laurie Harper (born 1970), Australian cricketer
• Lee Harper (born 1971), English footballer and football manager (Association football)
• Leni Harper, British actress
• Louis Harper, British civil engineer
• Louis George Harper (1830–1884), Canadian politician
• Louis J. Harper, American coach (American football)
• Luellyn Harper, American costume designer
• Luke Harper (born 1979), ring name of American professional wrestler Jon Huber
• Lynne Harper (1946–1959), Canadian murder victim
• Madeline Harper, pseudonym of Madeline Porter and Shannon Harper, American romance novel co-writers
• Mark Harper (American football) (born 1961), American footballer (American football)
• Mark Harper (born 1970), British politician
• Martha Matilda Harper (1857–1950), Canadian-American businesswoman and entrepreneur
• Mary C. Harper (1929-2012), American politician and educator
• Mary Harper Sowell (1924–2005), American poet
• Michael Harper (priest) (1931–2010), British priest
• Michael S. Harper (born 1938), American poet
• Mike Harper (born 1966), American motor racing journalist
• Mitch Harper (born 1956), American politician
• Nat Harper (1865–1954), Australian politician
• Nick Harper (born 1965), British singer-songwriter and guitarist
• Nick Harper (born 1974), American Football player
• Norman Harper, British journalist
• Pat Harper (1935–1994), American TV news anchorwoman
• Peter Harper (disambiguation), several people
• Phil Harper (1940–2004), American voice actor
• Philip Harper (trumpeter) (born 1965), American jazz trumpeter
• Philip Harper (brewer) (born c. 1966), British master sake brewer
• Ray Harper (born 1961), American basketball coach
• Reg Harper, Canadian politician from Prince Edward Island
• Rinelle Harper, Canadian First Nations advocate for victims of violence
• Rob Harper, British musician
• Robert Harper (Australian politician) (1842–1919), Australian politician
• Robert Harper (actor) (born 1951), American actor
• Robert Harper (computer scientist), American computer scientist
• Robert Almer Harper (1862–1946), American botanist
• Robert Goodloe Harper (1765–1825), American politician nfrom Maryland
• Robin Harper (born 1940), Scottish politician
• Rod Harper (born 1985), American footballer (American football)
• Roger Harper (born 1963), Guyanese cricketer
• Roger Harper (American football) (born 1970), American footballer (American football)
• Roland Harper (born 1953), American footballer (American football)
• Roly Harper (1881–1949), English footballer (Association football )
• Roman Harper (born 1982), American footballer (American football)
• Ron Harper (actor) (born 1936), American actor
• Ron Harper (born 1964), American basketballer
• Ron Harper, Canadian regional politician from Saskatchewan
• Rory Harper (born 1950), American science fiction writer
• Roy Harper (born 1941), English singer-songwriter and guitarist
• Roy Winfield Harper (1905–1994), American federal judge
• Ruth Harper, American politician from Pennsylvania
• Sam Harper, American writer, director and producer
• Samuel Hadden Harper (1783–1837), American federal judge
• Sarah Harper, British gerontologist
• Scott Harper, American politician
• Scott E. Harper (born 1952), American composer and bassist
• Shane Harper (born 1993), American actor, singer and dancer
• Shannon Harper, American co-writer of romance novels
• Shawn Harper (born 1968), American footballer (American football)
• Skinny Bobby Harper (1939–2003), American radio and video DJ
• Stephen Harper (born 1959), former Prime Minister of Canada
• Stephen Harper (designer), English designer
• Steve Harper (born 1975), English footballer (Association football)
• Steve Harper (footballer, born 1969) (born 1969), English footballer (Association football)
• Steven C. Harper (born 1970), American professor of church history and doctrine
• Steven Harper, pseudonym of Steven Piziks, American science fiction author
• Susan Harper (diplomat) (1952), Canadian diplomat
• Sylvia Lance Harper (1895 — after 1925), Australian tennis player
• Tanisha Harper (born 1985), Japanese-American model, actress and television host
• Tara K. Harper (born 1961), American science fiction author
• Ted Harper (1901–1959), English footballer (Association football)
• Terry Harper (born 1940), Canadian former ice hockey player
• Terry Harper (baseball) (1955), American baseball player
• Tess Harper (born 1950), American actress
• Thomas Morton Harper (1821–1893), English Jesuit priest and theologian
• Tom Harper (American football) (c. 1937-1989), American coach (American football)
• Tom Harper (actor) (born 1977), British actor
• Tom Harper, pseudonym of Edwin Thomas (born 1977), English historical novelist
• Tommy Harper (born 1940), American baseball player
• Toni Harper (born 1937), American singer and actress
• Travis Harper (born 1976), American baseball player
• Valerie Harper (born 1939), American actress
• Vern Harper (born 1936), Canadian Aboriginal rights activist
• Wally Harper (died 2004), American composer, conductor and musical director
• Walt Harper (1926–2006), American jazz pianist
• Walter Harper (1892–1918), Canadian mountaineer
• Warren Harper (c. 1932-1997), American Football coach
• William Claude Harper (born 1944), American jewelry artist
• William Edmund Harper (1878–1940), Canadian astronomer
• William Harper (composer) (born 1949), composer
• William Harper (South Carolina) (1790–1847), American politician from South Carolina
• William Rainey Harper (1856–1906), American university president
• William Harper Pease (1824–1871), American conchologist and malacologist
• William Harper Twelvetrees (1848–1919), English-Australian geologist
• Willie Harper (born 1950), American footballer (American football)
• Winard Harper (born 1962), American jazz drummer
• Winnifred Harper Cooley (1874–1967), American author and lecturer

People with the given name

• Harper Carter (born 1939), American entrepreneur
• Harper Goff (1911–1993), American artist, musician, and actor
• Harper LeBel (born 1963), American footballer (American football)
• Harper Lee (1926–2016), American novelist
• Harper Simon (born 1972), American singer-songwriter
• Harper Williams (born 1971), American basketball player

Fictional characters with the surname

• Several characters in the American sitcom Mama's Family:
  • Ellen Harper
  • Naomi Harper
  • Thelma Harper
  • Vinton "Vint" Harper

• Several characters in the British sitcom My Family:
  • Ben Harper
  • Janey Harper
  • Michael Harper (My Family)
  • Nick Harper
  • Susan Harper (My Family)
• Several characters in the American sitcom Two and a Half Men:
  • Alan Harper (Two and a Half Men)
  • Charlie Harper (Two and a Half Men)
  • Evelyn Harper (Two and a Half Men)
  • Jake Harper (Two and a Half Men)
• Ben "Beanie" Harper, character in the television series Love of Life
• Cally Harper Ewing, character in the television series Dallas
• David Harper (General Hospital), character in the television series General Hospital
• Dick Harper, character in the 1977 film Fun with Dick and Jane and the 2005 remake
• Harry Harper (Casualty), character in the television series Casualty
• Holly Harper, character in the television series Brothers & Sisters
• Jack Harper (disambiguation), several characters
• Jane Harper, character in the 1977 film Fun with Dick and Jane and the 2005 remake
• Jess Harper, character from the 1958 NBC Western series Laramie. Played by Robert Fuller.
• Joe Harper, character in the novel The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
• Johnny Harper, character in the television series The O.C.
• Kate Harper (The West Wing), character on the television show The West Wing
• Molly Harper, character in the film Final Destination 5
• Owen Harper, one of the main protagonists in the television series Torchwood
• Patrick Harper (fiction), character in the television series Sharpe
• Sally Harper, character in the BBC comedy Coupling
• Seamus Zelazny Harper, character in the television series Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda
• Steven Harper (Boston Public), character in the television series Boston Public
• Ty Harper, character in the television series Neighbours
• Rebecca Harper, character in the television series Brothers & Sisters
• Roy Harper (comics), DC Comics character
• Wade Harper, character in two episodes of Walker, Texas Ranger. Played by Robert Fuller.
• Will Harper, character in the television series EastEnders
• William Harper Littlejohn, character in the Doc Savage novels by Lester Dent

Fictional characters with the given name

• Harper Avery, surgeon that the Harper Avery Award is named after and grandfather of Jackson Avery in Grey's Anatomy
• Harper Connelly, title character of The Harper Connelly Mysteries novels by Charlaine Harris
• Harper Dearing, businessman-turned terrorist and main villain in the 10th season of NCIS
• Harper Decker Simmons, character in the film Parental Guidance
• Harper Pitt, character in the Pulitzer Prize winning Angels in America
• Harper Finkle, character in the sitcom Wizards of Waverly Place
• Harper Stanhope, character in Lost
• Harper Whitley, character in the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street

See also

• Happer (disambiguation)