Tapson Family History

From Topsham (Devon) recorded as Toppesham in 937, Tapsam in 1359, Appisham al. Toppisham in 1588, and Topsham vulg. Apsum in 1675. The unrounding of the vowel is characteristic of Devon dialect.

The development of -sham to -son can be seen in Buckland Monachorum where the surname proliferated in the 16th and 17th centuries. A branch of the family appears to have moved to the London area in the 18th century.

The place-name derives from an Old English personal name *Topp (genitive *Toppes) or Old English topp ‘top top of a hill or bank’ (genitive toppes) + hamm ‘enclosure water meadow’.