The
name "Grope" or "Grape" is derived from NorthGerman Gropen or Grapen, meaning
a big three-legged kettle with or without handle; this is undoubtedly proved
by numerous sources. The name "Gropengiesser" shows the same origin. The appearance
of this kettle among all arms and seals of Grope, Grape, Grap and Grape is another
incidence of the name's interpretation
There is evidence that church filings within the same trunk may vary in writing
from Grope to Grape or viceversa. One interpretation might be a dialect hardly
distinguishing between "a" and "o", another one, more favoured by us , is the
Old German writing, wherein "a" is very similar to "o". According to the writer's
disposition the downstroke on the "a" might be shorter or longer, or a "o" followed
by a "p" might show a downstroke making distinguishing rather difficult.