Trapp
A surname likely from a French/German nickname meaning “stumpy” or “heavy-footed,” though some historical writers also linked it to a place-name.
The #3,813 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 33,220 Americans shares it.
Etymology
The strongest historical explanation treats Trapp as a nickname surname from French trappe/trapu, meaning something like “squat” or “stumpy.” Harrison connects this to a Germanic base, comparing German trapp, “heavy step,” and trappen, “to walk heavily.” Some older writers also suggested a locative source from a place called Trapp or Trappe, but that looks less certain than the nickname explanation.
History
The surname is recorded in medieval England, including forms such as John Trappe and Richard Trappe in 13th-century records. In later centuries it appears in England and also in North American references, including Joseph Trapp, an 18th-century writer and cleric. The spelling Trapp has remained stable, while related forms like Traps or Trappes are also attested.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
A 19th-century surname writer pointed out that the root behind Trapp was thought to describe a person’s build or gait rather than an occupation.
From the historical record
“TRAPP (A.-Fr.-Teut.) the French Trappe, Trap(e = Squat, Stumpy [Fr. trapu ; of Teut. orig. : cp. Ger. trapp, a heavy step ; trappen, to walk heavily] John Trappe. — Hund. Rolls. TRAPPS, Trapp's (Son) : v. Trapp.”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)