Explore the Family Name Harp
The meaning of Harp
1. English: habitational name from any of several minor places called Harp, for example South Harp in South Petherton (Somerset) or Harp House in Eastwood (Essex), named with Middle English harp ‘harp, place where the harp was played, feature shaped like a harp’. In some cases the name might also be habitational referring to a house bearing the sign of a harp. 2. English: occupational name for a harpist or perhaps someone who made harps. The Middle English word harp(e) denoted the musical instrument, but also a harp-shaped implement for sifting and cleansing salt. Compare Harper. 3. German: metonymic occupational name for a harpist, from Middle High German harpfe ‘harp’. 4. German: variant of Harpe.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Harp in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname "Harp" has seen changes in its popularity between 2000 and 2010. The ranking fell from 2,484 to 2,638, indicating a reduction of 6.2%, while the count increased by 2.64%, from 13,295 to 13,646. Additionally, the proportion per 100,000 people dropped by 6.09%, from 4.93 to 4.63.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #2,484 | #2,638 | -6.2% |
| Count | 13,295 | 13,646 | 2.64% |
| Proportion per 100k | 4.93 | 4.63 | -6.09% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Harp
Turning to the ethnic identity associated with the surname "Harp," again referencing the Decennial U.S. Census data, several shifts occurred between 2000 and 2010. The largest change was observed within the Hispanic community, which saw a 64.78% increase in bearing this surname. People identifying as Two or More Races and Asian/Pacific Islander also increased their use of "Harp," growing by 38.42% and 22.5% respectively. Conversely, there was a slight decrease among Whites and American Indian and Alaskan Natives, down by 2.47% and 1.9% respectively. The Black community's usage of "Harp" remained relatively stable, increasing slightly by 2.97%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 85.09% | 82.99% | -2.47% |
| Black | 10.11% | 10.41% | 2.97% |
| Hispanic | 1.59% | 2.62% | 64.78% |
| Two or More Races | 1.77% | 2.45% | 38.42% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 1.05% | 1.03% | -1.9% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.4% | 0.49% | 22.5% |
Harp ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Harp is British & Irish, which comprises 53.7% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (23.9%) and Scandinavian (3.3%). Additional ancestries include Eastern European, Spanish & Portuguese, Nigerian, Italian, and Indigenous American.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 53.7% |
| French & German | 23.9% |
| Scandinavian | 3.3% |
| Other | 19.0% |
Possible origins of the surname Harp
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Harp have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| West Yorkshire, United Kingdom | 86.00% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 86.00% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 86.00% |
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 86.00% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 85.60% |
What Harp haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Harp is R-CTS241, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-CTS241 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-Z16294 and R-Z19, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Randall, Slater, Hatton, Welch, Shaw, Cameron, Sherman, Carroll, Dodd, Rees.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Harp surname are: H1, T2b, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Harp have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Harp" Surname 39.3%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Harp" Surname 28.8%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Harp" Surname 36.3%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Harp" Surname 19.4%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Harp?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Harp are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition