Sharp is an

English language English is a West Germanic language of the Indo-European language family, with its earliest forms spoken by the inhabitants of early medieval England. It is named after the Angles, one of the ancient Germanic peoples that migrated to the ...

surname, cognate to the

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) ** Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

'. It is also akin to words which have the sense of scraping, e.g.

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

' 'ditch',

Russian Russian(s) refers to anything related to Russia, including: *Russians (, ''russkiye''), an ethnic group of the East Slavic peoples, primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries *Rossiyane (), Russian language term for all citizens and peo ...

' 'to scrape'. Recorded variations of the surname include Sharp, Sharpe, Shairp, Sharps and the diminutives Sharpin, Sharplin and Sharpling. It originates from a medieval nickname, with the derivation from the

Old English Old English (, ), or Anglo-Saxon, is the earliest recorded form of the English language, spoken in England and southern and eastern Scotland in the early Middle Ages. It was brought to Great Britain by Anglo-Saxon settlers in the mid-5th c ...

word "scearp", meaning sharp and used to describe a "sharp or smart" person.

People bearing the surname Sharp

A

* Abraham Sharp (1651–1742), English schoolmaster, mathematician and astronomer *

Alan Sharp Alan Sharp (12 January 1934 – 8 February 2013) was a Scottish novelist and screenwriter. He published two novels in the 1960s, and subsequently wrote the screenplays for about twenty films, mostly produced in the United States. According to ...

(1934–2013), Scottish author * Alex Sharp (actor) (1921–2008), American actor, stuntman and writer *

Anne Sharp Anne Sharp (24 October 1916 – 25 August 2011) was a Scottish coloratura soprano particularly associated with the operas of Benjamin Britten. Background and education Anne Smellie Graham Sharp was born in Motherwell, Lanarkshire, the eighth and ...

(1916-2011), Scottish soprano * Anthony Sharp (Quaker) (1643–1707), Dublin Quaker * Anthony Sharp (1915–1984), English actor * Archie Sharp (born 1995), British boxer * Arthur Sharp (footballer)

B

Bartholomew Sharp Bartholomew Sharp (c. 1650 – 29 October 1702) was an English buccaneer and privateer. His career of piracy lasted seven years (1675–1682). In the Caribbean he took several ships, and raided the Gulf of Honduras and Portobelo. He took command ...

(c. 1650–1702), English buccaneer *

Billy Sharp Billy Louis Sharp (born 5 February 1986) is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker and captains club Sheffield United. He has also played for Rushden & Diamonds, Scunthorpe United, Southampton, Nottingham Forest, Readin ...

(born 1986), English professional footballer * Bree Sharp (born 1975), American singer and songwriter

C

Cecil Sharp Cecil James Sharp (22 November 1859 – 23 June 1924) was an English-born collector of folk songs, folk dances and instrumental music, as well as a lecturer, teacher, composer and musician. He was the pre-eminent activist in the development of t ...

(1859–1924), English music teacher and traditional English dance expert *

Clifford Sharp Clifford Dyce Sharp (1883–1935) was a British journalist. He was the first editor of the ''New Statesman'' magazine from its foundation in 1913 until 1928; a left-wing magazine founded by Sidney and Beatrice Webb and other members of the socia ...

, British journalist

D

* Dallas Lore Sharp (1870–1929), American nature author and university professor * Dave Sharp (born 1959), English guitarist * David Sharp (entomologist) (1840–1922), English physician and entomologist * David Sharp (mountaineer) (1972–2006), Everest mountain climber *

Dee Dee Sharp Dee Dee Sharp (born Dione LaRue; September 9, 1945, in Philadelphia) is an American R&B singer, who began her career recording as a backing vocalist in 1961. Career Although Sharp had been playing the piano from an early age and directed chur ...

(born 1945), American rhythm and blues singer *

Dennis Sharp Dennis Sharp (30 November 1933 – 6 May 2010) was a British architect, professor, curator, historian, author and editor. His obituary in ''The Guardian'' stated that he 'was well-known as an architectural historian, teacher and active defender o ...

(1933-2010), British architect * Derrick Sharp (born 1971), American-Israeli professional basketball player *

Don Sharp Donald Herman Sharp (19 April 192114 December 2011) was an Australian film director. His best known films were made for Hammer in the 1960s, and included ''The Kiss of the Vampire'' (1963) and ''Rasputin, the Mad Monk'' (1966). In 1965 he dire ...

(1922-2011), British film director * Dorothea Sharp (1874–1955), British artist * Dudley C. Sharp (1905–1987), former Secretary of the United States Air Force

E

Elliott Sharp Elliott Sharp (born March 1, 1951) is an American contemporary classical composer, multi-instrumentalist, and performer. A central figure in the avant-garde and experimental music scene in New York City since the late 1970s, Sharp has released ...

(born 1951), American avant-garde musician

F

* Frank Sharp (disambiguation)

G

Gene Sharp Gene Sharp (January 21, 1928 – January 28, 2018) was an American political scientist. He was the founder of the Albert Einstein Institution, a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the study of nonviolent action, and professor of pol ...

(1928–2018), political scientist * George Sharp (footballer) *

Graeme Sharp Graeme Marshall Sharp (born 16 October 1960) is a Scottish former professional football player and manager. Sharp played as a forward for Dumbarton, Everton, Oldham Athletic and Bangor City. He enjoyed great success with Everton, helping them ...

(born 1960), Scottish footballer *

Granville Sharp Granville Sharp (10 November 1735 – 6 July 1813) was one of the first British campaigners for the abolition of the slave trade. He also involved himself in trying to correct other social injustices. Sharp formulated the plan to settle black ...

(1735–1813), English abolitionist

H

Hap Sharp James "Hap" Sharp (January 1, 1928 – May 7, 1993) was an American race car driver who drove in six Formula One Grands Prix. He was most famous however, for being a co-owner and driver of the revolutionary Chaparral sports racing cars built by ...

(1928–1993), American Formula One driver *

Harry Sharp (disambiguation) Harry Sharp may refer to: * Harry Sharp (cricketer), English cricketer, cricket coach and scorer * Harry Sharp (footballer), Australian rules footballer * Harry Clay Sharp (1870–1940), American surgeon and eugenicist * Harrison Sharp, Scottish ...

I

* Isaac Sharp (1681–1735), early New Jersey settler, judge, politician, and colonel * Isadore Sharp (born 1931), Canadian businessman

J

Jack Sharp John Sharp (15 February 1878 – 28 January 1938) was an English sportsman who is most famous for his eleven-season playing career at Everton from 1899–1910. It saw him win two caps for his country, as well as being a cricketer for Lancash ...

(1878–1938), English international footballer and test cricketer * James E. Sharp (born 1940), American lawyer *

James Lyall Sharp The Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Azerbaijan is the United Kingdom's foremost diplomatic representative in the Republic of Azerbaijan, and head of the UK's diplomatic mission in Baku. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the United King ...

(born 1960), British diplomat * James Sharp (bishop) (1613–1679), Scottish clergyman * James Sharp (footballer, born 1869), Scottish footballer * James Sharp (footballer, born 1894), Scottish footballer * James Sharp (footballer, born 1976), English footballer *

John Sharp (actor) John Herbert Sharp ( – ) was a British actor who made numerous appearances on television during a career spanning 42 years. Biography Sharp made more than 130 appearances in television and occasionally films between 1949 and 1991. Although a ...

(1920–1992), British television actor * John Sharp (Archbishop of York) (1643–1714), Archbishop of York *

John Sharp (Australian politician) John Randall Sharp (born 15 December 1954) is a former Australian politician who served as a National Party member of the Australian House of Representatives representing the Divisions of Gilmore, 1984 to 1993 and Hume, 1993 to 1998 in New S ...

(born 1954), Australian politician *

John Sharp (Texas politician) John Spencer Sharp (born July 28, 1950) is an American Democratic politician from Texas, who has served since 2011 as the chancellor of the Texas A&M University System. From 1991 to 1999, he was the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. From ...

(born 1950), a former Texas politician * Jon Sharp, former head coach of Huddersfield Giants * Jonathan Sharp (1964-2009), English record producer * Joseph Henry Sharp (1859–1953), artist (Taos Art Colony) * Joseph Sharp (c. 1709–1776), early settler of New Jersey * J. W. Sharp (c. 1818–1856), English comic entertainer

K

* K. B. Sharp (born 1981), professional women's basketball player * Katharine Dooris Sharp (1846–1935), American botanist and poet * Kevin Sharp (1970–2014), American country music artist * Kevin Sharp (footballer) (born 1974), Canadian-born footballer * Kevin Sharp (heavy metal), American heavy metal singer for

Venomous Concept Venomous Concept is an American hardcore punk band formed by Kevin Sharp of Brutal Truth and Shane Embury of Napalm Death in 2004. Sharp and Embury were joined by Danny Herrera and Buzz Osborne, who was later replaced by Danny Lilker. They have ...

and

Brutal Truth Brutal Truth was an American grindcore band from New York City, formed by ex-Anthrax, Nuclear Assault, and Stormtroopers of Death bass guitarist Dan Lilker in 1990. The group disbanded in 1999, but reformed in 2006 and continued to release musi ...

L

* Leonard Sharp (1890–1958), British actor *

Lesley Sharp Lesley Sharp is an English stage, film and television actress whose roles on British television include ''Clocking Off'' (2000–2001), ''Bob & Rose'' (2001) and ''Afterlife'' (2005–2006). She was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actress ...

(born 1964), English actress * Lester W. Sharp (1887–1961), American botanist *

Liam Sharp Liam Roger Sharp (born 2 May 1968) is a British comic book artist, writer, publisher, and co-founder/CCO of Madefire Inc. Early life Liam Sharp was born in Derby. He went to School at Brackensdale Junior then infants school, before moving to ...

(born 1968), British comic book artist * Linda K. Sharp, women's basketball coach * Lindsay Sharp, museum director

M

* Maia Sharp, country music singer and songwriter *

Margaret Sharp, Baroness Sharp of Guildford Margaret is a female first name, derived via French () and Latin () from grc, μαργαρίτης () meaning "pearl". The Greek is borrowed from Indo-Iranian languages, Persian. Margaret has been an English name since the 11th century, and r ...

(born 1938), member of the British House of Lords *

Margery Sharp Clara Margery Melita Sharp (25 January 1905 – 14 March 1991) was an English writer of 25 novels for adults, 14 children's novels, four plays, two mysteries, and numerous short stories. Her best-known work is ''The Rescuers'' series about a h ...

(1905–1991), English writer *

Martha Sharp Martha Ingham Dickie Sharp Cogan (April 25, 1905 – December 6, 1999) was an American Unitarianism, Unitarian who was involved in humanitarian and social justice work with her first husband, a Unitarian Minister (Christianity), minister, Waitst ...

(1905–1999), American philanthropist *

Martin Sharp (journalist) Martin Andrew Sharp Hume (8 December 1843 – 1 July 1910), born Martin Andrew Sharp, was an English historian, long a resident in Spain. Background and early life Martin Andrew Sharp was born in London on 8 December 1843. He was second son of W ...

(1847–1910), English historian * Martin Sharp (born 1944), Australian cartoonist, songwriter and film-maker *

Matt Sharp Matthew Kelly Sharp (born September 22, 1969) is an American songwriter and musician. Until 1998, he was the bassist for the alternative rock band Weezer, which he cofounded in 1992. He appears on their first two albums, the '' Blue Album'' (199 ...

(born 1969), American rock bassist * Minnie Bell Sharp (1865–1937), pianist and singer * Mitchell Sharp (1911–2004), Canadian politician

N

* Norma Sharp (born 1943), American operatic soprano * Norm Sharp (born 1934), AFL 1952 premiership player

P

Pat Sharp Patrick Sharpin, known professionally as Pat Sharp (born 25 October 1961), is an English radio presenter, television presenter and DJ. In the UK, he is known mainly for his work on the children's ITV programme ''Fun House'', and his extensiv ...

(born 1961), British television presenter * Patrick Sharp (born 1981), Canadian ice hockey centre *

Peter Sharp Peter Sharp (born 16 July 1954) is an Australian professional rugby league coach. He was most recently the interim coach of the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the National Rugby League. Coaching career Sharp has been the head coach of the Nort ...

, Australian rugby league footballer and coach * Philip Sharp (disambiguation), multiple people *

Phillip Allen Sharp Phillip Allen Sharp (born June 6, 1944) is an American geneticist and molecular biologist who co-discovered RNA splicing. He shared the 1993 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Richard J. Roberts for "the discovery that genes in eukaryo ...

(born 1944), American geneticist and molecular biologist

R

Randy Sharp Randy Sharp is an American, three time Grammy Award winning singer/songwriter, guitarist and producer. He has major success in many genre of music with his greatest successes in Pop, Country, and Alternative. He has composed for film and televis ...

, songwriter *

Ray Sharp Raymond Sharp (born 16 November 1969) is a Scottish former footballer, who played for Dunfermline Athletic, Stenhousemuir, Preston North End, Forfar Athletic, Alloa Athletic, Cowdenbeath, East Fife and Montrose. Sharp made four appearances f ...

(born 1969), Scottish footballer * Ray Sharp (badminton), Badminton player and medallist in 1970 British Commonwealth Games * Rhod Sharp (born 1953), Scottish-born broadcaster *

Richard Sharp (politician) Richard Sharp, FRS, FSA (1759 – 30 March 1835), also known as "Conversation" Sharp, was an English hat-maker, banker, merchant, poet, critic, Member of Parliament, and conversationalist. He was at various times known in London society as "Ha ...

known as ''Conversation Sharp'', English wit *

Richard Sharp (rugby union) Richard Adrian William Sharp OBE (born 9 September 1938) is a retired English rugby union player. Born in India during the British Raj, his family moved to Cornwall, England, where he was educated at Montpelier School, Paignton and Blundell's ...

(born 1938), English rugby player * Rodney Sharp a director of the DuPont corporation *

Ronald Sharp Ronald William Sharp (8 August 1929 – 21 July 2021) was an Australian organ builder. He was awarded the Silver Jubilee Medal (1977) and the British Empire Medal (1980). Sharp was self-taught and built his first organ in 1960. He speciali ...

(born 1929), Australian organ builder *

Ryan Sharp Ryan Sharp (born 29 April 1979 in Newtonhill, Scotland) is a race car driver and team manager. He raced in the FIA GT Championship in 2007 with JetAlliance Racing in their lead No. 33 Aston Martin DBR9 – with ex-F1 Driver Karl Wendlinger as ...

(born 1979), British race car driver

S

* Sammy Sharp, footballer of the 1920s who played for Manchester City *

Scott Sharp Scott Sharp (born February 14, 1968) is an American professional racing driver in the United SportsCar Championship. He is the son of six-time SCCA champion Bob Sharp. Sharp is best known for his years as a competitor in the Indy Racing League. ...

(born 1968), an American race car driver * Solomon P. Sharp (1787–1825), American politician * Steve Sharp (disambiguation) * Susie Sharp (1907–1996), American jurist * Sylver Logan Sharp, vocalist

T

Terri Sharp Terri Sharp (March 24, 1948 – December 17, 2015) was an American songwriter and singer. While writing on Music Row in Nashville, Sharp's songs were recorded by many artists including Don Mclean and Hank Williams Jr. She lived in Texas, compo ...

(born 1950), American singer *

Thomas Sharp (priest) Thomas Sharp (1693–1758) was an English churchman, known as a biographer and theological writer, archdeacon of Northumberland from 1723. Life A younger son of John Sharp, archbishop of York, he was born on 12 December 1693. At the age of 15 h ...

(1693–1758), English churchman (Archdeacon of Northumberland), biographer and theological writer * Thomas C. Sharp (1818-1894), opponent of Joseph Smith, Jr. and the Latter Day Saints *

Thomas Wilfred Sharp Thomas Wilfred Sharp (12 April 1901 – 27 January 1978) was an English town planner and writer on the built environment. Biography Sharp was born in Bishop Auckland in County Durham, England. He attended the local grammar school and, between 19 ...

(1901–1978), English town planner and author *

Timm Sharp Timm Sharp (born 1978) is an American actor and writer. He is known for his role as Marshall Nesbitt in the Fox sitcom ''Undeclared'', Doug Von Stuessen in the Fox sitcom Til Death'', and Jim in the Starz comedy '' Blunt Talk''. Early life ...

(born 1978), American actor * Tom Sharp (cricketer), English first-class cricketer for Cornwall CCC and Unicorns

V

* Verity Sharp (born 1970), BBC Radio Three presenter

W

* Waitstill Sharp (1902–1984), American Unitarian minister and humanitarian *

Walter Benona Sharp Walter Benona Sharp (12 December 1870 - 28 November 1912) was an American oilman and innovator in drilling techniques. Early life Sharp was born in Tipton County, Tennessee to James R. and Amanda Forrest Sharp. His mother died when he was eight an ...

(1870–1912), American oil drilling pioneer, innovator and philanthropist *

Wanda Sharp Wanda J. Sharp (born July 23, 1950) is an American politician. Born in Chicago, Illinois, Sharp worked as a supervisor, safety trainer, and coordinator for Ford Motor Company. Sharp is an African-American. She served on the board of trustees for ...

(born 1950), American politician *

Wilf Sharp Wilfred Sharp (8 April 1907 – June 1981) was a Scottish professional footballer who played for Clydebank, Airdrieonians, Sheffield Wednesday and Bradford Park Avenue. Sharp was a right half whose career lasted from 1925 to 1936, he only ma ...

(1907–1981), English footballer with Airdrieonians and Sheffield Wednesday * William Graves Sharp (1859-1922), American lawyer, Congressman and diplomat * William Sharp (engraver) (1749–1824), English engraver * William Sharp (writer) (1855–1905), Scottish author and poet, pseudonym Fiona MacLeod * Willie Sharp (1922–1992), Scottish footballer *

Willoughby Sharp Willoughby Sharp (January 23, 1936 – December 17, 2008) was an American artist, independent curator, independent publisher (he was co-founder and co-editor of Avalanche Magazine with Liza Béar), gallerist, teacher, author, and telecom activist ...

(1936–2008), artist

Z

* Zerna Sharp (1889–1981), American teacher

Fictional characters

*Becky Sharp, protagonist of ''

Vanity Fair (novel) Vanity Fair may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Literature * Vanity Fair, a location in ''The Pilgrim's Progress'' (1678), by John Bunyan * ''Vanity Fair'' (novel), 1848, by William Makepeace Thackeray * ''Vanity Fair'' (magazines), the ...

'', William Makepeace Thackeray's novel *Deryn Sharp, in ''

Leviathan Leviathan (; he, לִוְיָתָן, ) is a sea serpent noted in theology and mythology. It is referenced in several books of the Hebrew Bible, including Psalms, the Book of Job, the Book of Isaiah, the Book of Amos, and, according to some ...

'', a Scott Westerfeld novel * Gavin Sharp, in the soap opera ''EastEnders'' *John Sharp, the player character in the 2011 video game ''

Cabela's Big Game Hunter 2012 ''Cabela's Big Game Hunter 2012'' is a hunting video game developed by Cauldron and published by Activision for the PlayStation 3, Wii and Xbox 360 in 2011. Gameplay The game takes place in five different locations: Montana, Mexico, Texas, N ...

'' *

Phineas Sharp This article includes a list of characters from the Disney series ''Darkwing Duck''. Main characters * Drake Mallard / Darkwing Duck (voiced by Jim Cummings, Chris Diamantopoulos in the 2017 ''DuckTales'' reboot) is an average citizen by day and ...

, a villain in the Disney animated series ''Darkwing Duck''

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sharp English-language surnames fr:Sharp ko:샤프 (동음이의) it:SHARP he:שארפ ka:დიეზი th:ชาร์ป (แก้ความกำกวม)

People bearing the surname Sharp

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Fictional characters

See also

References