Surname Rappolee - Meaning and Origin
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Rappolee: What does the surname Rappolee mean?
The last name Rappolee is a variation of the French surname Rapoudel, which originated in the St. Lo area of Normandy in the 15th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Old French word rapodel, meaning “little rod,” a reference to a staff or rod held by a religious figure.
The meaning of the surname Rappolee is symbolic of the authority, faith, and respect the rapodel represented in society of the time. The name has been carried forward over the centuries, persisting in families of French descent who attributed meaning to it for its historical significance.
The presence of the name Rappolee in a family heritage is a marker of powerful, spiritual lineage. Each bearer of the name is connected to the time when the rapodel served to link people of the faith, and align their purpose with the divine.
Today, the name Rappolee brings with it the reminder of a spiritual connection rooted deeply within a unique family history. In each generation, the name presents an opportunity to be mindful of the past, and use it as a guide to the necessary qualities of faith, respect, and leadership in the present - a reminder to honor our spiritual roots.
Order DNA origin analysisRappolee: Where does the name Rappolee come from?
The last name Rappolee is most commonly found in the state of New Jersey in the United States, especially in the northern, central and eastern parts of the state. There are also occurrences in Pennsylvania and New York. It is a relatively rare surname, as in the 2020 U.S. census, it is estimated that fewer than 1200 people in the entire United States have the surname.
The surname Rappolee is most likely of French origin, as indicated by its spelling, and is related to the French surname Rappoleau. The first recorded use of the surname is reported to have been in 1807 in Sussex County, New Jersey.
The last name Rappolee is spread over several generations of families that have lived the area of northern NJ for hundreds of years. Many of the people having this name trace their ancestral roots back to Europe, specifically France, Germany, and the Netherlands.
The last name Rappolee is still most regularly seen today in the state of New Jersey. With the global mobility that is a larger part of life today, families with the last name have spread to other states and regions across the country.
Variations of the surname Rappolee
Rappolee is a surname that originated from a habitational name derived from the French town of Rappolee. The alternate spellings and variants of Rappolee are Rapple, Rappel, Rappelle, Rapplee, Rappellee, Rappelly, Rapplea, Raple, Raplee, Rapley, Rapplay and Rappleye. The other surnames of the same origin include Rappleau, Rapalie, Rapali, Rapalio, Rapala, Rapalo, Rapallo, Rapaley, Rapalio, Rapalia, Rapalie, Rapaloa and Rapalia.
Each of these surnames is believed to have a common locality as the source of its name, so it is likely that all of them have the same origin. The most common spelling of the surname, Rappolee, is usually found throughout the United States. Other variants can be found in certain parts of the country, including the state of New Jersey, where the variant of Rapleye is the most popular spelling. This variant is found in areas such as Southern New Jersey, particularly in Atlantic, Burlington and Camden counties.
In addition, other variants of the Rappolee surname are found in parts of Canada, Germany and France. In France, for example, there are sixteen separate variations of the Rappolee surname. This includes Orrapole, Rapole, Rapolle, Luppole, Ruppole, Rappolle, Rapollet, Rapoli, Rapollé, Rupolle, Ruppollé, Robole, Robolle, Robollé, Roberge and Robulont.
All sixteen of these surnames are believed to have originated from the same geographical area in France. As such, they all share the same common origin despite their varied spellings.
Famous people with the name Rappolee
- Charles Benjamin Rappolee (1871-1946), American banker, Co-Founder of the National City Bank of New York.
- Robert Rappolee (1917-1996), American Painter trained at the National Academy of Design in New York City.
- Berton Gerard Rappolee (1919-2009), World War II veteran and Public Affairs representative for the United States Department of Interior.
- Marlene Rappolee Dohrmann (b. 1936), American fashion designer who was the founder of the label Marlene Dohrmann Design.
- Jay Rappolee (b. 1954), American baseball player who was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in 1976.
- John Francis Rappolee (b. 1955), American furniture carver and metalsmith from upstate New York.
- James Rappolee (b. 1956), American oceanographer and ocean engineer who specializes in economic models of energy capture systems.
- Joe Rappolee (b. 1958), American musician and producer from Chicago, Illinois.
- Paul Rappolee (b. 1973), Canadian Olympic biathlete, who competed in the 1998 and 2002 Winter Olympics.
- Gary Rappolee (b. 1979), award-winning American filmmaker and director from Los Angeles, California.