The Napier surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 19,182 people carried this name — #1,872 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 15,400 people counted. That is up 2% from 18,726 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Napier surname

A Scottish surname originating as an occupation for someone who sold table linen, or was in charge of the linen of a great house.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Napier» (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 a name of office: ‘the naper’.

An early record he cites: Robert le Nappere, Somerset, 1327–28 (1 Edward III) — Kirby's Quest (Somerset).

His entry covers Napier, Napper and Napery.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 550 · public domain.

In Ireland’s birth registers, 1890

Ireland registered 8 births for the Napier name in 1890.

Most were registered in Ulster. By the Registrar-General’s own method — births multiplied by 44.38 — that is about 400 people bearing the name in Ireland at the time. The Registrar-General’s note on the name: “Antrim and Down.”

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

Where they were born, 1890

Ulster 8

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

In Scotland’s registers today

Napier was recorded 50 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 526th most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 76. Each birth counts the child’s surname, each marriage both partners’ and each death the surname of the person who died — a yearly count of registrations, not of the people who live in Scotland.

National Records of Scotland, «Most Common Surnames, 2025» (published 26 May 2026): every surname recorded 10 or more times in the 2025 registers, and the series from 1975 · different spellings are counted separately — © Crown copyright 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

In print

Napier in American newspapers,
1911–1913.

Newspaper page from The Nashville Globe carrying the name Napier
The Nashville Globe 1911-03-17
Newspaper page from The Nashville Globe carrying the name Napier
The Nashville Globe 1913-10-24
Newspaper page from The Nashville Globe carrying the name Napier
The Nashville Globe 1911-03-17

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 2,115 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Napier in Australian newspapers,
1820s–2000s.

57,311 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Napier. The most, 13,090, 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 South Australia, at 2.5 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

South Australia 16,486
New South Wales 13,932
Victoria 10,168
Tasmania 6,785
Queensland 6,307
Western Australia 3,413
ACT (Canberra) 141
Northern Territory 16

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

Who carried it

People named Napier,
with a public archive behind them.

  • George M. Napier
    George M. Napier d. 1932
  • Robert Napier d. 1615 · judge
  • Robert Napier d. 1766 · military personnel
  • Samuel Napier d. 1984 · politician
  • Alexander Napier d. 1470 · politician
  • Nathaniel Napier d. 1635 · politician

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Napier,
in the records of 8 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 States1,260 records

1,260 records of the Napier name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 585
  • U.S. veterans' cemetery records, burials to 2001 202
  • Other U.S. records 473
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Robert T. Napier

    Born 1922 in Georgia. Enlisted 1943 at Newark, New Jersey; sales clerk from Essex County, New Jersey. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1979, buried at Calverton National Cemetery, New York.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Lee Allan Napier

    Born 1948; from Orchard, Nebraska. U.S. Army, infantryman; killed in action 1969 in Quang Tin, South Vietnam.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Joseph Napier

    Arrived at New York in 1892 aboard the Germanic from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 21; laborer. From Queenstown, Ireland; bound for New York.

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

Showing 3 of 1,260 records for Napier 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: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia914 records

914 records of the Napier name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 539
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 120
  • Other Australian records 255
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Henrietta Elizabeth Napier

    Born 1862 in Hobart, Tasmania. Married 1898 in Fingal, Tasmania, aged 35.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Francis Napier

    Arrived in Victoria in 1852 aboard the Frances Henty, aged 32; Scottish.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)
  3. 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 George Napier

    Transported to New South Wales aboard the Fortune, arriving 1813; certificate of freedom 1826.

    Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY)

Showing 3 of 914 records for Napier 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) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain).

United Kingdom82 records

82 records of the Napier name in the United Kingdom
  • Stirling Council burial records 56
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 17
  • Other British records 9
  1. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record Frank Napier

    Born 1887 at Rayne. Served in the First World War. Named in the University of Aberdeen roll of service in the Great War, 1914-1919.

    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 James Napier

    Buried in 1975 at Ballengeich Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland, aged 72.

    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 Juliana Napier

    Buried in 1840 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 30.

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

Showing 3 of 82 records for Napier in the United Kingdom.

Counts: Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. 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).

Canada81 records

81 records of the Napier name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 50
  • City of Winnipeg cemetery records 11
  • Other Canadian records 20
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Civil record James Napier

    Killed in 1934 at the Dominion No. 6 mine, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Euphemia Napier

    Died 1955, aged 52; buried at St. Vital 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 William M. Napier

    Buried in 1955 at Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, Nova Scotia, aged 76.

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

Showing 3 of 81 records for Napier in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

Netherlands16 records

16 records of the Napier name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch population registers 8
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 5
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 3
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record George Napier

    Married in 1851 in Rotterdam. Died 1904 in Rotterdam, aged 86.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Helen Graham Napier

    Married in 1948 in Heemstede.

    Open Archives, Noord-Hollands Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Helena Napier

    Buried in 1674 in Utrecht.

    Open Archives, Het Utrechts Archief (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 16 records for Napier 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); Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

New Zealand15 records

15 records of the Napier name in New Zealand Christchurch City cemetery records
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Annie Louisa Napier

    Died 1969, aged 90; buried at Linwood 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 Lousia Napier

    Buried in 1913 at Addington Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury, aged 79.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record James Napier

    Died 1920, aged 67; buried at Bromley Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 15 records for Napier in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City 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).

France1 record

1 record of the Napier 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 Arthur Robert Napier

    Born 1909 in the United Kingdom; died 1992 in Saint-Céré (Lot).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

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).

Germany1 record

1 record of the Napier name in Germany Germany's First World War casualty lists, 1914–1919
  1. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Robert Napier

    From Altboyn, Schmiegel. Reported wounded in the Prussian casualty list of 4 August 1916 (Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 46).

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)

Counts: Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Deutsche Verlustlisten, Prussian list 1116, 18 April 1918 (scan via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Napier.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Napier 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.

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