By any standards this is a very rare name even in its native Scandinavia (Norway) and in its apparent original spelling of "Naerup". The meaning is habitational and a derivation of "Narr" equivalent to the Old British "Naes" -a headland or promontory, plus the Suffix "opp" - "higher up". In literal terms the dweller on the high part of the headland. Presumably even in Scandinavia such topographical descriptions are rare and hence recordings likewise. However the relative lack of recordings may also be because Norway was part of Sweden until 1892, when it became an independent monarchy, and Norwegian was not so much a language as a series of dialects. Furthermore topographical names in Scandinavia are rare in anycase, most names being patronymic such as Jansen and Anderson. A possible further example of the name is found in Paul Hiort Nardrup, christened at Halden, Norway on May 3rd 1785. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Hans Jorgen, Naerup, which was dated September 13th 1836, married Hanne Ernestine Gottvald at Domkirken, Oslo, during the reign of King Charles X1V of Sweden 1818 - 1844. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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