This surname is derived from an occupation. 'the roper,' a manufacturer of ropes; compare N.E. Raper.

Peter le Roper, Nottinghamshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Walter le Ropere, Cambridgeshire, ibid.

Gerald Roppere, Suffolk, ibid.

John le Roper, Somerset, 1 Edward III: Kirby's Quest, p. '52.

1347. Thomas le Roper, rector of Eccles, Norfolk: History of Norfolk.

Rogerus Roper, roper 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

1613. Baptised — Richard, s. William Roper: St. James, Clerkenwell.

(English) Rope-Maker or-Seller [M.E roper(e, raper(e; Old English ráp, rope + the agential suff. -ere] Simeon le Roper —Hundred Rolls Til Robyn the ropere Aroos bi the southe.—Piers Plowman, 3147-8.

“Rope Maker” in Old English.

(English) One who made and sold rope.

I doubt not from the trade of making ropes, especially since we have the analogous names, Corder, Stringer, Twyner, &c., and Le Roper is common in old records. But an exception from so plebeian an origin is claimed by one family thus denominated. "There is a very ancient family of the Ropers in Cumberland, who have lived immemorially near a quarry of red spate there, from whence they first took the surname of Rubra Spatha." Wright's Court-Hand-where we find "Rouxcarrier, Roussir, Rooper, or Roper," latinized by De Rubra Spatha. Fuller places this family in another county. "The name of Roper in Derbyshire changed from Musard to Rubra-Spatha, Rospear, Rouspee, Rooper, Roper." Worthies i. 71. Lord Teynham's family claim from William Roper, or Rosper, who lived in the reign of Henry III., and whose descendants were of St. Dunstan's, near Canterbury, temp. Edward II. The family have ever since been connected with Kent. See Shirley's Noble and Gentle Men.

Or De Rupierre. This family has been supposed to be descended from a member of the house of Musard, who is said to have assumed the name of ‘Rospear or De Rubruspatha;’ but there is no evidence for the statement. The name is derived from Rupierre near Caen, Normandy, the lords of which were of great importance in the 11th and 12th centuries (Des Bois). William de Rupierre (who came to England with the Conqueror) is mentioned by Ordericus Vitalis; in 1090 he commanded the forces of Duke Robert. The Counts of Rupierre continued in Normandy till the last century (Ib.). In 1099 William de R. possessed Trenouville, Grenteville, and Fremont, and was a benefactor of Troarn (MSAN, xii. 53). The seal of Roger de R. (MSAN, plate xvii.) represents a shield divided into twelve squares, each containing a martlet, the original evidently from which the modern Roper arms are derived. In England Robert de Ruperia paid fines in Notts and Derby (Rot. Pip.); and the heiress of John Rooper of Turndish, Derby, m. De Fourneaux, who assumed her name (Mon. i. 503). Roger de Rupers, of the Norman line, held lands in Warwick or Leicester, t. John, where he granted the advowson to Tewksbury Abbey (Testa de Neville, 87). From this family descend the Roopers and the Barons Teynham.

(English), Rope-maker, Crafty fellow, Rogue. One family of the name were, however, originally styled Musard; which was changed to de Rubra spatha, and corrupted to Rospeare, Rou- spee, Rooper, and Roper.

Roper: a cordwainer, a ropemaker. Cordery is the man at the ropewalk.