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LIPTRAP Historically, the Liptraps have been, for the most part, poor people, with little more than a grammar school education. They worked as farmers or laborers, attracting little attention in the communities where they lived. They are among the multitudes of the earth whom historians have ignored. There is no family fortune, no estate in England, no family crest. But for the last 235 years in America, Liptraps have earned a reputation as a decent, God-fearing people. Whether farmer or doctor, merchant or bank vice president, day laborer or university professor, nearly all Liptraps are known for their honesty, sobriety, and sense of humor. The name Liptrap has always been a source of discussion, and often amusement, by all who encounter it, and especially by those who claim it as their own. Usually nicknamed "Lippy," Liptraps often find their mail more inventive. The following is a list of some of the variations found on mail and on various official records. Lipard Liptip Libtrap Liptnap Liptrop Lystrap Lapstrap Lipptrap Liptrape Lisstrup It has often been guessed that the name Liptrap originated with an Englishman who either spoke only when absolutely necessary or who had some oral peculiarity. (1) However I while the name is English, its origin is German; and it is not related to the English words lip or trap.The original name was spelled "Liobtrut" (2) and was one combination of the Old High German liub, meaning beloved or dear (itself coming from the Old English leof) and trut, meaning a friend or sweetheart (also the origin of the word "true").(2) The combination could mean "dearly loved," "beloved friend," or "trustworthy". (3,4) Variations Liubtrut and Liebtrut are sometimes used as women's given names today in Germany.(5) In the Middle High German dialect, the name becomes Lieptrut, Lieptraut, and even Lieptrap.(5)About 1550, a German protestant by the name of Liebetraut migrated to England, probably to escape religious persecution. (3) This name was apparently too German sounding for sixteenth-century Englishmen to pronounce (LEEB-uh-trout with a rolled "r"), and it quickly evolved into Libtrot and Liptrot.(3) Parish records of Chorley, Lancashire, show Liptrots as early as 1552. Liptrapp is considered a derivation of Liptrot,(3) and was in existence in England by March 5, 1604,(6) when Luke Liptrapp, son of Richard Liptrapp was christened in the parish of St. Giles Cripplegate, in London. Three years earlier, the same Richard Lyptrit married Sarah Powstar at St. Margaret Moses Church in London, April 11, 1602. Their first son, Jonas Liptratt, was baptized at St. Giles Cripplegate on January 30, 1602 "old style".(6)In Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England, there is a "Liptraps Lane"; and just north of the same city, there is a "Liptraps Farm." One hundred miles southeast of Melbourne, Australia, there is Mount Liptrap (elevation 562 feet) on Cape Liptrap, named by Lt. Grant, Captain of the Lady Nelson in December, 1800, for his friend John Liptrap of London. A light house was built there in 1913. There is a mention of a "Captain Liptrap" in a fictional novel about the 1857 Indian Mutiny, In Times of Peril, A Tale of India, by George Alfred Hinty (1832-1902). This book apparently survived one uncopyrighted printing about 1890. Whether fiction or not, there was a Captain John Liptrap (1796-1878), born at Mile End, London, who was in the Bengal Army. He was Captain from 1831 to 1850. As Lieutenant Colonel in 1857, he four times brought back men of the 45th Native Infantry when they had mutinied. He was promoted to Major General 22 Aug 1865, and to General 1 Oct 1877. He appeared in the British Census of 1871 in St Mary's, Chettenham, Middlesex, and died at Kensington, London, on 21 Sep 1878. Elizabeth Liptrapp, daughter of Edward Liptrapp of Tinbly, Leicestershire, in central England, was indentured to John Moore, merchant of London, for four years' service in Maryland on August 2, 1684. Her age was given as "about 21 years" and she signed by mark. (7) This is the earliest record connecting the name of Liptrap with the New World, but it is unknown whether Elizabeth actually came to America.Two families by the name of Liptrap have been founded in the New World. Isaac Liptrap (1752-1819) came to Virginia in 1772, as described later, married and raised nine children to found the Liptrap Family in Virginia. Robert George Liptrap (1905-1998) emigrated to Toronto, Ontario, Canada, in 1929; married, and raised two sons to found the Liptrap Family in Canada. This website concerns primarily the Liptrap Family of Virginia. There appears to have been a Thomas Liptrap in Wendover, Buckinghamshire, England, during the last quarter of the seventeenth century. His wife Mary died about 1684 and he remarried Elizabeth Phillips in 1686. Ten of his children were baptized at Wendover between 1679 and 1699. His son Thomas was baptized on February 13, 1680. (6) It may have been this younger Thomas who married Mary Horton on January 2, 1710,(6) in the parish of St. Dunstan in the East in London, and had three children baptized at All Hallows the Great in London, beginning with his son Thomas on January 24, 1711.(6) It is possible that this third Thomas married, had a son named Isaac in 1752, and died about five years later, leaving Isaac an orphan living with aunts and uncles. No proof of any of this has been found, but see the information I have accumulated on the Liptrap Family in England.But in January of 1772, an orphaned Isaac Liptrap, age 19, appeared the East End of London. Three of his cousins have been identified. They were John Liptrap of London, John Allen of Whitechappel, and John Dutton of Ralph's Key. (8) Isaac was persuaded to emigrate to better prospects in America and sailed aboard the ship Tayloe in July, 1772,(9) under Captain Dougal McDougal. He landed either at Annapolis, Maryland, or along the Rappahannock River in Virginia, where the Tayloe Family supplied laborers to the iron works. (11) But by September of 1780, Isaac was living in Rockbridge County, Virginia.(10) |
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. References: (1) Suffolk Surnames, N. I. Bowditch, London, 1861, page 156 (2) Surnames of the United Kingdom, Henry Harrison, London, 1912, v. 1, p. 273 (3) Surnames, Ernest Weekley, E. P. Dutton & Co., 1916, page 327 (4) Personal and Family Names, Harry Alfred Long, London, 1883, page 246 (5) Deutsche Vornamen mit Stammvőrterbuch, Alfred Baß, Leipzig, 1969, page 139 (6) Prior to 1752, in England and her colonies, New Years Day was March 26. So the day . . .after March 25, 1604, was March 26, 1605. Thus March 5, 1604 "old style" is the same . . .as March 5, 1605 "new style." The date is now commonly written March 5, 1604/5 (7) Some Early Emigrants to America, Crego Nicholson, Baltimore, 1965, p. 56 (8) The Proceedings on the King's Commission of the Peace, Oyer and Terminer, and . . Gaol-Delivery, S. Bladen, London, 1772, Number 4, pages 157-159 . . TRANSCRIPT (9) Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, P. William Filby, 1981, Cale Research. (10) List of Tithables, Charles Campbell's Company, Rockbridge County, Virginia, 1780, . . . includes "Isack Cliptrap" (11) Dan Byrnes The Blackheath Connection, a website book . |
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