The Draper surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 24,337 people carried this name — #1,467 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 12,100 people counted. That is up 5% from 23,242 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Draper surname

An English surname originating as an occupation for a draper (cloth merchant).

English occupational surname, from the noun draper.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Draper» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as an occupational name: ‘the draper’.

An early record he cites: Roger le Draper, Wiltshire, 1273 — Hundred Rolls.

His entry covers Draper, Drapper and Dreaper.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 252 · public domain.

In Ireland’s birth registers, 1890

Ireland registered 5 births for the Draper name in 1890.

Most were registered in Munster. By the Registrar-General’s own method — births multiplied by 44.38 — that is about 200 people bearing the name in Ireland at the time.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born, 1890

Munster 3
Leinster 2

Registrar-General for Ireland, «Special Report on Surnames in Ireland» (R. E. Matheson, 1894), births index of 1890 — public domain.

In Switzerland’s population statistics

34 people named Draper live in Switzerland.

They live in 5 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, most of all in Vaud.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Vaud 13
Zurich 10
Geneva 4
Schwyz 4
Zug 3

Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO), «Surnames of the permanent resident population by canton», 2025, opendata.swiss/en/dataset/nachnamen-der-standigen-wohnbevolkerung-nach-kanton3 · names with fewer than 3 bearers in a canton are not published.

In France’s civil register

France’s register of deaths holds 29 people named Draper.

8 of them were born outside France. Those born in France came from 8 départements, most often Pyrénées-Orientales.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born

Born outside France 8
Pyrénées-Orientales 10
Bouches-du-Rhône 4
Ain 2
Ardennes 1
Aveyron 1
Pas-de-Calais 1
Tarn 1
Var 1

Fichier des personnes décédées, INSEE — Licence Ouverte 2.0 · deaths recorded in France since 1970, by place of birth.

In the Nordic population registers

23 people named Draper is counted in Sweden.

Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published.

Counted, by country

Sweden (2022) 23

Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown).

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Draper was found among the farmers of 2 counties.

It was most frequent in Bedfordshire: 20 in every 10,000 farmers there — about 1 in 500. Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Bedfordshire 20
Lancashire 9

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

108 Draper families were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 579 people lived in those households, 5.4 to a family on average. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

Massachusetts 42
New York 14
North Carolina 10
Virginia 8
New Hampshire 7
Vermont 6
South Carolina 6
Maryland 5
Pennsylvania 4
Rhode Island 3
Connecticut 3

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 238 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Draper in American newspapers,
1926–1927.

Newspaper page from The Carbon County News carrying the name Draper
The Carbon County News 1926-10-21
Newspaper page from The Carbon County News carrying the name Draper
The Carbon County News 1927-07-14
Newspaper page from The Carbon County News carrying the name Draper
The Carbon County News 1927-06-09

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 6,189 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Draper in Australian newspapers,
1830s–2000s.

90,301 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Draper. The most, 16,173, date from the 1930s. Weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, it stands out most in Western Australia, at 3.6 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

Western Australia 24,064
Victoria 23,661
New South Wales 15,713
Queensland 14,963
South Australia 8,267
Tasmania 3,417
ACT (Canberra) 143
Northern Territory 10

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Draper.

Who carried it

People named Draper,
with a public archive behind them.

  • William Draper
    William Draper 1721–1787 · military officer
  • Eliza Draper
    Eliza Draper 1744–1778 · writer
  • Joseph Draper
    Joseph Draper 1794–1834 · lawyer
  • William Henry Draper
    William Henry Draper 1801–1877 · judge
  • Simeon Draper
    Simeon Draper 1804–1866 · merchant

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 237 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Draper,
in the records of 7 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States1,945 records

1,945 records of the Draper name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 751
  • U.S. veterans' cemetery records, burials to 2001 304
  • Other U.S. records 890
  1. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record William Lloyd Draper

    Born 1948; from Hopewell, Virginia. U.S. Marine Corps, rifleman; killed in action 1968 in Thua Thien, South Vietnam. Buried at City Point National Cemetery, Virginia.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Lovelder Draper

    Born 1907 in Missouri. Enlisted 1942 at San Francisco, California; waiter. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1963, buried at Golden Gate National Cemetery, California.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Anne Draper

    Arrived at New York in 1892 aboard the Servia from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 44; matron. From Cork, Ireland; bound for Chicago.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 1,945 records for Draper in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia1,288 records

1,288 records of the Draper name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 518
  • Queensland State Archives indexes 279
  • Other Australian records 491
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Mary Ann Draper

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Emma Eugenia, sailing from London in 1843. Native of Walkern, Hertfordshire. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1848. Married 1848 in Hobart, Tasmania.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Adelaide May Draper

    Born 1874 in Launceston, Tasmania. Married 1895 in Launceston, Tasmania, aged 20.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Hezekiah Elias Draper

    Born 1860 in New Norfolk, Tasmania. Died 1891 in Launceston, Tasmania, aged 30.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 1,288 records for Draper in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · City of Ballarat, Avenue of Honour Plaques (CC BY 3.0 AU). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

Netherlands481 records

481 records of the Draper name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 192
  • Dutch population registers 181
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 108
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Wilhelmus Hendricus Johannes Draper

    Married in 1922 in Amsterdam; warehouse clerk. Died 1954 in Haren, aged 61; commercial traveller.

    Open Archives, Noord-Hollands Archief (CC BY 4.0); Open Archives, Groninger Archieven (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Johanna Sophia Draper

    Married in 1849 in Amsterdam; seamstress. Died 1894 in Bloemendaal, aged 66.

    Open Archives, Noord-Hollands Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Hendrikus Johannes Josephus Draper

    Married in 1888 in Millingen; merchant, born 1843 in Zwolle. Died 1914 in Almelo, aged 71; shopkeeper.

    Open Archives, Gelders Archief (CC BY 4.0); Open Archives, Collectie Overijssel locatie Zwolle (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 481 records for Draper in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

Canada111 records

111 records of the Draper name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 36
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 22
  • Other Canadian records 53
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Alice Draper

    Came to Ontario in 1882 aboard the L. Nipigon, landing at Quebec, bound for Bracebridge, Ontario; English.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Anthony Gordon Draper

    Died 1966, aged 26; buried at Brookside Cemetery, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

    City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Loretta Evangeline Draper

    Buried in 1993 at Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, Nova Scotia, aged 56.

    Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax.

Showing 3 of 111 records for Draper in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

United Kingdom70 records

70 records of the Draper name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 53
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 13
  • Other British records 4
  1. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record John Draper

    Born 1889 at Muirton; wood carter. Served in the First World War. Named in the Morayshire roll of honour (1921).

    National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Peter Davies Draper

    Died 2001, aged 85; buried at Dunblane Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record William Draper

    Buried in 1823 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 62.

    MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Showing 3 of 70 records for Draper in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain) · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0) · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0); Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

New Zealand17 records

17 records of the Draper name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 9
  • Marlborough District cemetery records 8
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Reuben Colin Draper

    Died 2000, aged 80; buried at Memorial Park Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Evaline Draper

    Died 1901, aged 21; buried at Omaka Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Brian Edward Draper

    Died 1985, aged 33; buried at Waimairi Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 17 records for Draper in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

France14 records

14 records of the Draper name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Georges Paul Jean Draper

    Born 1933 in Marseille; died 2000 in Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Marguerite Marie Draper

    Born 1897 in Bellegarde-sur-Valserine (Ain); died 1977 in Nice (Alpes-Maritimes).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 2 of 14 records for Draper in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Draper.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Draper is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

See the Draper volume
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