Eppes History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany

The lineage of the name Eppes begins with the Anglo-Saxon tribes in Britain. It is a result of when they lived near one or more notable aspen trees. The surname Eppes is derived from the Old English word æpse, which means aspen. The surname may also be a nickname in jest, for a timid person, referring to the trembling leaves of the tree. 1

However, one source notes that name may be "a genitive form of Ape or Appe; a personal name, ante [(before)]1066 [and in the] Domesday Book. " 2

Early Origins of the Eppes family

The surname Eppes was first found in Huntingdonshire where the singular name Eppe was recorded c. 1250. A few years later, Roger Eppe was listed in Norfolk according to the Hundredorum Rolls of 1275. The name could have originated at Epps Farm in Bentley, Warwickshire. 3

Early History of the Eppes family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Eppes research. Another 185 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1307, 1327, 1524, 1534, 1604, 1628, 1658, 1779, 1787, 1805, 1815, 1823, 1833, 1845, 1869 and 1874 are included under the topic Early Eppes History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Eppes Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Eppes has undergone many spelling variations, including Apps, Apse, Abbs, Abb, App, Apsey, Epps, Ebbs, Epsey, Epp and many more.

Early Notables of the Eppes family

More information is included under the topic Early Eppes Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Eppes migration to the United States +

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Eppes were among those contributors:

Eppes Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Francis Eppes, who was on record in Virginia in 1625 with his three sons
Francis Eppes, who arrived in Virginia in 1625 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Eppes (post 1700) +

Richard Eppes (1824-1896), American planter and surgeon in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War
Mary "Polly" "Maria" Jefferson Eppes (1778-1804), born Mary Jefferson, the younger of Thomas Jefferson's two daughters who survived infancy
Francis Wayles Eppes VII (1801-1881), American grandson of President Thomas Jefferson
John Wayles Eppes (1773-1823), American attorney and politician, United States Senator from Virginia (1817-1819)
T. J. Eppes, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Florida, 1860
Nelda Eppes, American Republican politician, Presidential Elector for Texas, 1996; Delegate to Republican National Convention from Texas, 2004, 2012; Presidential Elector for Texas, 2012
John Wayles Eppes (1773-1823), American Democratic Party politician, Member of Virginia State House of Delegates, 1801-03; U.S. Representative from Virginia, 1803-11, 1813-15
Henry Eppes, American politician, Member of North Carolina State Senate 7th District, 1872-74

The Eppes Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: In Te Domine Speravi
Motto Translation: In thee, O Lord, I have placed my hope.

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)