Napier (surname)
Encyclopedia
Napier is a surname
with an English, Scottish or Polish origin. The British surname Napier is derived from an occupational name for someone who sold or produced table linen
; or for a naperer which was a servant who was responsible for the washing and storage of linen in a medieval household. The surname is derived from the Middle English
, Old French
napier, nappier which is a derivative of the Old French nappe meaning "table cloth". The earliest occurrences of the surname is of a Peter Napier in 1148 in the Winton Domesday
; Ralph (le) Naper, le Napier in 1167-71; and Reginald le Nappere in 1225. The surname can also be a shortened form of the Polish
surname Napierala.
Surname
A surname is a name added to a given name and is part of a personal name. In many cases, a surname is a family name. Many dictionaries define "surname" as a synonym of "family name"...
with an English, Scottish or Polish origin. The British surname Napier is derived from an occupational name for someone who sold or produced table linen
Linen
Linen is a textile made from the fibers of the flax plant, Linum usitatissimum. Linen is labor-intensive to manufacture, but when it is made into garments, it is valued for its exceptional coolness and freshness in hot weather....
; or for a naperer which was a servant who was responsible for the washing and storage of linen in a medieval household. The surname is derived from the Middle English
Middle English
Middle English is the stage in the history of the English language during the High and Late Middle Ages, or roughly during the four centuries between the late 11th and the late 15th century....
, Old French
Old French
Old French was the Romance dialect continuum spoken in territories that span roughly the northern half of modern France and parts of modern Belgium and Switzerland from the 9th century to the 14th century...
napier, nappier which is a derivative of the Old French nappe meaning "table cloth". The earliest occurrences of the surname is of a Peter Napier in 1148 in the Winton Domesday
Winton Domesday
The Winton Domesday or Liber Winton is a 12th-century English administrative document which records the landholdings in the city of Winchester together with their tenants and the rents and services due from them. The city was not included in the surveys which produced Domesday Book in 1086. The...
; Ralph (le) Naper, le Napier in 1167-71; and Reginald le Nappere in 1225. The surname can also be a shortened form of the Polish
Polish language
Polish is a language of the Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages, used throughout Poland and by Polish minorities in other countries...
surname Napierala.
People
- Alan NapierAlan NapierAlan William Napier-Clavering was an English actor, best known for portraying Alfred Pennyworth in the 1960s live-action Batman television series.-Early life and career:...
(1903–1988), actor who played Alfred the Butler in the television series Batman - Alex Napier (musician)Alex Napier (musician)Alex Napier was the drummer for the musical bands Spice and Uriah Heep.-With Uriah Heep:*Very 'eavy... Very 'umble *The Lansdowne Tapes -External links:*...
, musician, formerly a drummer for the band Uriah HeepUriah Heep (band)Uriah Heep are an English rock band formed in London in 1969 and regarded as a seminal classic hard rock act of the 1970s. Uriah Heep's progressive/art rock/heavy metal fusion's distinctive features have always been massive keyboards sound, strong vocal harmonies and David Byron's operatic vocals... - Bill NapierBill NapierWilliam M. Napier or Bill Napier is the author of five high tech thriller novels and a number of serious scientific books....
(William M. Napier, born 1940), Scottish astronomer and author - Buddy NapierBuddy NapierSkelton Le Roy "Buddy" Napier , Major League baseball pitcher from 1912 to 1921. He was born in Byromville, Georgia.-Major league career:...
(Skelton Le Roy "Buddy" Napier), American Major League Baseball pitcher - Charles Napier (disambiguation)
- Claude NapierClaude NapierClaude Napier was an English translator of the Scandinavian languages.He is most known for his translation and dramatization of Hjalmar Bergmans novel Grandma and our Lord. This dramatisation was a team-work with his son actor Alan Napier...
, British translator of Scandinavian - David Napier (disambiguation)
- Duncan NapierDuncan NapierDuncan Napier was a Victorian botanist and herbalist. His early start in life was hard as he was orphaned at an early age. From his youth he was fascinated by plants and nature. His interest in herbal medicine started when he found a book about it on an Edinburgh market stall. He had been...
, Victorian botanist and herbalist - Francis Napier, 10th Lord NapierFrancis Napier, 10th Lord NapierFrancis Napier, 10th Lord Napier and 1st Baron Ettrick, KT, PC , was a Scottish polyglot, diplomat and colonial administrator. He served as the British Minister to the United States from 1857 to 1859, Netherlands from 1859 to 1860, Russia from 1861 to 1864, Prussia from 1864 to 1866 and as the...
and 1st Baron Ettrick (1819 – 1898) - George Napier (disambiguation)George Napier (disambiguation)George Napier may refer to:* George Napier , d. 1610* George Napier – British Army officer* George Thomas Napier - George Napier's son, also a British Army officer, Governor of the Cape...
- Graham NapierGraham NapierGraham Richard Napier is an English cricketer. He is a right-handed batsman and a right-arm medium fast bowler....
(born 1980), English cricketer - Henry Edward NapierHenry Edward Napier-Life:Napier, born on 5 March 1789, was son of Colonel George Napier, younger brother of Sir Charles James Napier, conqueror of Scinde, of Sir George Thomas Napier, governor of the Cape of Good Hope, and of Sir William Francis Patrick Napier, historian and general....
, another of George Napier's sons, naval officer and historian. - Ian Napier (aviator)Ian Napier (aviator)Captain Ian Patrick Robert Napier MC was a World War I flying ace credited with twelve aerial victories.On 2 September 1914, Napier was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the 9th Battalion, Princess Louise's Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. On 8 July 1915, he was appointed an aide-de-camp...
, World War I flying ace - Irene NapierIrene NapierIrene Napier is a film and television make-up designer from Scotland.-Education:Napier trained in hairdressing at the Central College of Commerce, qualifying in 1974.-Career:...
(born 1953), Scottish film and television Make-up artist - Jack Napier (porn star)Jack Napier (porn star)Jack Napier is an American pornographic actor and director. He is of African American and Puerto Rican descent....
(born 1976), Puerto Rican pornographic actor - James Napier (disambiguation)
- Jessica NapierJessica NapierJessica Napier is a New Zealand born actress. She has been working consistently in Australian film and television for the past 15 years...
(born 1979), New Zealand actress, daughter of Marshall Napier - John Napier (disambiguation)John Napier (disambiguation)John Napier is , Scottish mathematician, physicist and astronomer .John Napier is the name of:*John Light Napier , U.S...
, including the sixteenth century mathematician. - Joseph NapierJoseph NapierSir Joseph Napier, 1st Baronet was an Irish Conservative Party Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom Parliament and subsequently Lord Chancellor of Ireland....
(1804–1882), Irish conservative Member of Parliament - Lonnie NapierLonnie NapierLonnie Napier is an American politician from the Republican Party . Napier is currently serving his fourteenth two-year term in the Kentucky House of Representatives....
(born 1940), American politician from Kentucky - Macvey NapierMacvey NapierMacvey Napier FRS FRSE was a Scottish lawyer and an editor of the Encyclopædia Britannica. A hard-working scholar in his youth, he was recruited by Archibald Constable...
(1776–1847), Scottish lawyer, editor of the Encyclopædia Britannica - Mark Napier (disambiguation)
- Marshall NapierMarshall NapierMarshall James Napier is a New Zealand-born actor. He is the father of actress Jessica Napier and the uncle of actor James Napier.Before becoming an actor, Napier worked variously as an art student, factory worker and truck driver...
, New Zealand actor, father of Jessica Napier - Mick NapierMick NapierMick Napier is an actor, director, teacher and author living in Chicago. He is the founder and artistic director of the Annoyance Theatre and an award-winning director at The Second City. He has worked with people such as Stephen Colbert, Tina Fey, Rachel Dratch, Horatio Sanz, Nia Vardalos, Andy...
, American actor and director - Nigel Napier, 14th Lord Napier (born 1930), Scottish soldier and courtier
- Nigel Napier-AndrewsNigel Napier-AndrewsNigel Napier-Andrews is a British/Canadian TV producer, director, and author. Until June 2009 he worked as a video producer and event planner for RBC Financial Group.He is now Vice-President for in Toronto.-Early life:...
(born 1942), British/Canadian TV producer and director - Oliver NapierOliver NapierSir Oliver Napier was the first leader of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland. In 1974 he served as the first and only Legal Minister and head of the Office of Legal Reform in the Northern Ireland power-sharing executive set up by the Sunningdale Agreement.-Early life:Napier was educated at St...
(born 1935), first leader of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland - Phillip Morris Napier, American politician in Maine
- Richard NapierRichard NapierNote that Dr. Richard Napier may be confused with his nephew, Dr. Richard Napier who was also a physician and astrologer.Richard Napier was a prominent English astrologer and medical practitioner.-Biography:...
(1559–1634), astrologer - Priscilla NapierPriscilla NapierPriscilla Napier was an English author, specializing in biography.-Early life:Born at Oxford in 1908, Hayter was the daughter of Sir William Hayter, an adviser to the Egyptian government, and his wife, Alethea Slessor, daughter of a Hampshire rector...
, English biographer - Prudence Hero NapierPrudence Hero NapierPrudence Hero Napier was one of Britain's most eminent primatologists, and the world's leading expert on the taxonomy of primates. She was the widow of the primatologist, John Napier. -Biography:...
, British primatologist - Robert Napier (disambiguation)
- Russell NapierRussell NapierRussell Gordon Napier was an Australian actor.Russell Napier was born in Perth, Western Australia. Originally a lawyer, Napier was active as an actor from 1947 to 1974, playing both comedic and dramatic roles in both cinema and television. Notably, he starred in a live BBC television production...
(1910–1974), Australian actor - Simon Napier-BellSimon Napier-BellSimon Napier-Bell has undertaken many jobs in the music industry, including bandboy, manager, producer, songwriter, journalist and author and gourmet...
(born 1939), English music professional, one-time manager of The Yardbirds, Wham! and others - Sue NapierSue NapierSue Napier was an Australian politician. She was a member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly for the Division of Bass...
(born 1948), Tasmanian politician - Susan NapierSusan NapierSusan Napier was a popular New Zealand writer of over 30 romance novels in various Mills & Boon category lines since 1984.-Biography:...
, New Zealand novelist - Susan J. NapierSusan J. NapierDr. Susan Jolliffe Napier is Professor of the Japanese Program at Tufts University. She was formerly Professor of the Japanese Literature and Culture at the University of Texas at Austin, and a visiting professor at the Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations at Harvard University...
, American professor - Thomas Napier (philanthropist)Thomas Napier (philanthropist)Thomas Napier was born in Scotland. He emigrating to the Australian Colonies in 1832, first to Van Diemen's Land and then later to the Port Phillip District . He was a builder and continued that trade in the colonies. He moved to Melbourne in 1837 less than two years after the first permanent...
(1802–1881), Scottish philanthropist - Wilfrid NapierWilfrid NapierWilfrid Fox Napier, OFM is a South African cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church and Archbishop of Durban, South Africa.-Biography:...
(born 1941), South African cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church - William Rawdon NapierWilliam Napier (admiral)Admiral William Rawdon Napier CB CMG DSO was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be First Naval Member & Chief of the Australian Naval Staff.-Naval service:...
(1877-1951), Admiral of the Royal Navy - William Ewart NapierWilliam Ewart NapierWilliam Ewart Napier was an American chess master of English birth.- Life :...
(17 January 1881 in East DulwichEast DulwichEast Dulwich is a district of South London, England in the London Borough of Southwark. It forms the eastern one third of Dulwich, with the Dulwich Wood area, Dulwich Village and West Dulwich to its South and West making up the remaining two thirds...
, SurreySurreySurrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
- 6 September 1952 in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
) was an AmericanUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
chess masterChess masterA chess master is a chess player of such skill that he/she can usually beat chess experts, who themselves typically prevail against most amateurs. Among chess players, the term is often abbreviated to master, the meaning being clear from context....
of EnglishEnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
birth.
- William Napier, pseudonym for British novelist Christopher HartChristopher Hart (novelist)Christopher Hart is an English novelist and journalist. He writes for The Guardian, The Daily Telegraph, The Literary Review, and The Bookseller, and is literary editor of the Erotic Review...
Fictional persons
- Carson Napier, fictional hero of Edgar Rice Burroughs Venus series
- Declan NapierDeclan NapierDeclan Napier is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Erin Mullally. The character first appeared on-screen on 25 July 2007. In January 2010 it was announced that original actor James Sorensen had quit the role of Declan and the decision to recast...
, fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbors - Jack Napier, fictional villain from Batman
- Rebecca NapierRebecca NapierRebecca Jane Robinson , is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Jane Hall. The show suffered a ratings decline in early 2007 and plans were put in place for storylines to focus more on relationships and family dynamics. During this period, the...
, fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbors - Sean Napier, fictional character in Exosquad