The English, Scottish, and Irish surname Harper is an occupational name for a player on the harp, from an agent derivative of Middle English, Middle Dutch harp ‘harp’. The harper was one of the most important figures of a medieval baronial hall, especially in Scotland and northern England, and the office of harper was sometimes hereditary. The Scottish surname is probably an Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Chruiteir ‘son of the harper’ (from Gaelic cruit ‘harp’, ‘stringed instrument’). This surname has long been present in Ireland. Early examples of the surname from England and Scotland include: Henry le Harpur (Cambridgeshire, 1273); Reginald le Harper (Worcestershire, 1275); and William le Harpur of La Lawe, in the county of Edinburgh, who rendered homage to Edward 1 of England in 1296.