Explore the Family Name Napier
The meaning of Napier
1. English and Scottish: occupational name from Old French napier, nappier, nap(p)er(er) ‘one who looks after the napery or table-linen’, a derivative of Old French nappe ‘table-cloth, napkin’. In Middle English, Napier and Nap(p)er might also have denoted a maker of table cloths, though this sense has not been recorded. 2. English: alternatively an occupational name from Nap(p)er from an unrecorded Middle English word for one who makes naps, i.e. drinking cups or chalices (Middle English nap, Old English hnæp). Napper could also be a nickname from Middle English nappere ‘one who sleeps or naps’, though this is the least likely of the alternatives. 3. American shortened form of Polish Napierala or a similar name. History: An extensive Scottish family called Napier, who once held the earldom of Lennox, are descended from the hereditary naperers to the kings of Scotland in the 12th century. The name has been established in Ireland since medieval times.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Napier in the United States?
According to the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Napier has seen a slight decrease in popularity over the past decade. In the year 2000, it ranked 1755th on the list of popular surnames but dropped to 1872nd in 2010, marking a decline of 6.67%. Nevertheless, the number of people with this last name actually increased from 18,726 to 19,182, a growth of 2.44%. The proportion per 100,000 people also decreased by 6.34%, going from 6.94 in 2000 to 6.5 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,755 | #1,872 | -6.67% |
| Count | 18,726 | 19,182 | 2.44% |
| Proportion per 100k | 6.94 | 6.5 | -6.34% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Napier
In terms of ethnic identity, the Decennial U.S. Census data indicates a few changes over the same period. While the majority of individuals with the Napier surname identified as White (84.30% in 2010), there was a small decrease in this group (-1.90%). Meanwhile, the proportion of Napiers identifying as Hispanic saw the most significant increase, rising by 50.40% to 1.88% in 2010. Additionally, there was also an increase among those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander (47.06% increase) and Black (4.99% increase). On the other hand, the number of individuals identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native slightly decreased by -6.12%. Those identifying with two or more races also saw an increase of 22.29%, reaching 1.92% in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 85.93% | 84.3% | -1.9% |
| Black | 10.42% | 10.94% | 4.99% |
| Two or More Races | 1.57% | 1.92% | 22.29% |
| Hispanic | 1.25% | 1.88% | 50.4% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.34% | 0.5% | 47.06% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.49% | 0.46% | -6.12% |
Napier 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 Napier is British & Irish, which comprises 59.5% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (20.7%) and Eastern European (3.6%). Additional ancestries include Nigerian, Scandinavian, Italian, Spanish & Portuguese, and Ghanaian, Liberian & Sierra Leonean.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 59.5% |
| French & German | 20.7% |
| Eastern European | 3.6% |
| Other | 16.2% |
Possible origins of the surname Napier
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 Napier have recent ancestry locations all within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 90.90% |
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 90.90% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 90.70% |
| West Yorkshire, United Kingdom | 90.70% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 90.70% |
What Napier 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 Napier is R-L48, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-L48 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-CTS241 and R-S744, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Barksdale, Mullis, Blankenship, Currier, Alger, Olive, Dryden, Giffin, Wilburn, Delano.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Napier surname are: H1, T2b, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343
Your paternal lineage may be linked to King Louis XVI
The rule of France by men of the House of Bourbon began with King Henri IV in 1589 C.E. and continued until the beheading of his direct paternal descendant King Louis XVI in 1793. Several years ago, researchers analyzed a mummified head and a blood-soaked cloth that they believed might belong to the two kings, and concluded that the royal paternal line belonged to haplogroup G. In a more recent study, however, a different set of researchers tested three living men who are direct descendants of the Bourbon kings. Their efforts revealed that the male lineage of the House of Bourbon is actually a branch of haplogroup R-M405.
Your 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 Napier 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.
"Napier" Surname 37.5%
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.
"Napier" Surname 27.9%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Napier" Surname 22.6%
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.
"Napier" Surname 21.7%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Napier?
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 Napier are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition