Show ContentsEpley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Epley surname first began to be used in the German state of Bavaria, some time after the 12th century, when hereditary surnames were adopted according to fairly general rules, and names that were derived from locations became particularly common. The family name Epley is a local surname. Originally denoting the proprietorship of an estate or influence within a village, the German preposition von, which means from or of, used with local names, was taken as a mark of aristocracy. The surname Epley was given to someone who lived in Bavaria, where they became known from the early Middle Ages as an important family within the social and cultural life of the community.

Early Origins of the Epley family

The surname Epley was first found in Bavaria, where the family held a family seat in the Middle Ages. Individual bearers of the name first mentioned in ancient chronicles include Eberhart and Friedericus of Ebs in Bavaria in 1190, Albertus (Appelinus) dictus Eppelin in Heilbronn in 1283, Rudel Eppfeler in Glatz in 1367, Nicholous Eppler in Iglau in 1390.

Early History of the Epley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Epley research. Another 319 words (23 lines of text) covering the years 1290, 1295, 1434, 1515, 1586, 1598, 1717 and 1814 are included under the topic Early Epley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Epley Spelling Variations

One can encounter great variation in the spelling of surnames: in early times, spelling in general, and thus the spelling of names was not yet standardized; and later, spellings would change with branching and movement of families. Variations of the name Epley include Epple, Eppler, Epler, Eppel, Eppell, Eppli, Epp, Eppo, Eppe, Eppard, Eppele, Eppelin, Eppeler, Eppfeler, Eppelen, Epplen, Eppan, Eppaner, Epplan, Eplan, Epling, Eppling, Eps, Epps, Ebs, Ebbs, Eppes, Epes, Eppley and many more.

Early Notables of the Epley family

Another 35 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Epley Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Epley Ranking

In the United States, the name Epley is the 8,744th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1


United States Epley migration to the United States +

The great European flow of migration to North America, which began in the middle of the 17th century and continued into the 20th century, was particularly attractive to those from Bavaria who wished to escape either poverty or religious persecution. For many Bavarian tenant farmers, the chance to own their own land was a major incentive. So the widespread colonization of the United States began in 1650, when many immigrants from Germany settled in pockets in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. In Canada, German settlement centered in Ontario and the prairie provinces. Among those of this surname listed in various historical records were:

Epley Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • M. J. Epley, aged 41, who landed in America in 1907
  • Maurice Epley, aged 40, who immigrated to the United States, in 1907
  • Anna Epley, aged 60, who immigrated to the United States, in 1912
  • Grace C. Epley, aged 26, who settled in America in 1917
  • Clarence Epley, aged 25, who landed in America from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in 1921

Contemporary Notables of the name Epley (post 1700) +

  • Michael S. Epley, American camera technician, known for his work on Men in Black II (2002), Shooter (2007) and S.W.A.T. (2003)
  • Rebecca Epley, born Rebecca Olson, American model and actress, known for America's Next Top Model (2003) and Reality Revealed: Beauty and the Geek (2007)
  • Dr. Frank W. Epley, American physician from New Richmond, Wisconsin; his home was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988
  • David Epley (1931-2009), American minister who broadcast his weekly Christian TV show across the United States in the 1970s


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/


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