Pieper (surname)

Pieper is a surname of German and Dutch origin. It is derived from the Middle Low German word "piper," meaning "pipe player" or "piper." The name was originally an occupational surname for someone who played the pipe, often a musician. Variations of the name include Piper, Pijper, and Peper. The surname is found primarily in Germany and the Netherlands, and among their diaspora. The earliest records of the name date back to the medieval period. The name's distribution suggests a correlation with areas historically associated with guilds and town musicians. Notable individuals with the surname Pieper exist in various fields, including theology, philosophy, and the arts.