The earliest named Rapps were Martin and Lienhardt Rapp of Neumuehl, Germany in 1544. The early family controlled large tracts of land near Eckartsweier and were influential landholders. A later descendent was made a Count by the Emperor Napoleon and given a large estate near Mullhausen, France. The Neumuel branch of the family, however, were hardworking people and owned only small parcels of land. The political unrest and armed conflicts in Germany caused immense hardship and prompted many of the families to search for a better life elsewhere.

In 1838, Jacob Rapp and his wife Barbara (Keller) Rapp left the small village of Neumuehl in southwest Germany and emigrated to the USA. It is very likely that the Rapp family in the US kept in contact with the Keller and Krieg families still living in Neumuehl since in 1852 Michael Krieg and his wife Anna (Keller) joined the Rapps in the USA. Anna and Barbara were sisters.

The name Rapp was later changed in spelling to Ropp to keep the original German pronunciation intact.

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1 Michael Rapp Abt 1739 - 1840

........2 Michael Rapp Abt 1780 - 1840

..........+Magdalena Lapp 1770 - 1835

..................3 Jacob Rapp 1804 - 1875, emigrated to US 1832

....................+Barbara Keller 1811 - 1867, emigrated to US 1832

............................4 Barbara Ropp 1835 - 1917

..............................+Michael Krieg 1832 - 1905

......................................5 John Krieg 1857 - 1910

...................................... +Mariah McGillem 1859 - 1939

................................................6 Lovie Adam Krieg 1882 - 1974

..................................................+George Adolph Schupp 1866 - 1953

..........................................................7 George Edward Schupp 1926 -

............................................................+Dorothy Lois Kowarsch 1928 -