ROPER. 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 b)' 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 Coiu't-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 RubraSpatlia, Rospear, Rouspee, Rooper, Roper." Worthies i. 71. Lord Teynham's family claim fi'om William Roper, or Rosper, who lived in the reign of Henr}' III., and whose descendants were of St. Duustau's, near Canterbury, temp. Edward III. The family have ever since been connected with Kent. See Shirley's Noble and Gentle Men.

Lower, Mark A (1860) Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom. London: J.R. Smith. Public Domain.