Show ContentsHeap History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Heap was brought to England in the great wave of migration following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Heap family lived in Lancashire.

Early Origins of the Heap family

The surname Heap was first found in Lancashire where they held a family seat from very early times and were granted lands by Duke William of Normandy, their liege Lord, for their distinguished assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Heap family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Heap research. Another 81 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Heap History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Heap Spelling Variations

Norman surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are largely due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England, as well as the official court languages of Latin and French, also had pronounced influences on the spelling of surnames. Since medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings. The name has been spelled Heap, Heaps and others.

Early Notables of the Heap family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

  • Richard Heap of Failsworth

Heap Ranking

In the United States, the name Heap is the 16,508th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. [1]


United States Heap migration to the United States +

Many English families emigrated to North American colonies in order to escape the political chaos in Britain at this time. Unfortunately, many English families made the trip to the New World under extremely harsh conditions. Overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the stormy Atlantic. Despite these hardships, many of the families prospered and went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the United States and Canada. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Heap or a variant listed above:

Heap Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Richard Heap, who settled in Virginia in 1657
Heap Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Mary Heap, who settled in Virginia in 1705
Heap Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • John Heap, who arrived in Alexandria, Va in 1814 [2]
  • William Heap, who landed in Alexandria, Va in 1819 [2]
  • Benjamin, George, Henry, John, and Thomas Heap, who arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1865

Australia Heap migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Heap Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Joshua Heap, British Convict who was convicted in York, Yorkshire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [3]
  • Benjamin Heap, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Alice Brooks" in 1839 [4]
  • George Heap, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Baboo" in 1840 [5]
  • Priscilla Heap, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Baboo" in 1840 [5]
  • Mr. James Heap who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Duchess of Northumberland" on 1st October 1842, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) [6]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Heap migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Heap Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Edward Heap, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Simlah" arriving in Otago, South Island, New Zealand in 1851 [7]
  • Mr. John Heap, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Simlah" arriving in Otago, South Island, New Zealand in 1851 [7]
  • Mrs. Heap, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Glenmark" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 13th December 1870 [8]
  • Miss Heap, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Glenmark" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 13th December 1870 [8]
  • Mr. Heap, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Glenmark" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 13th December 1870 [8]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Heap (post 1700) +

  • William Heap, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Michigan National Democratic State Central Committee, 1899; Candidate for Michigan State Senate 23rd District, 1906 [9]
  • Lionel Heap, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Michigan Democratic State Central Committee, 1917; Mayor of Grand Haven, Michigan, 1934-35; Defeated, 1935 [9]
  • Gwynne Harris Heap, American politician, U.S. Consul in Belfast, 1866-67; Tunis, 1874; U.S. Consul General in Constantinople, 1884 [9]
  • Elizabeth Heap, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New Jersey, 2004 [9]
  • Todd Heap (b. 1980), American professional (NFL) football player
  • Mark Heap, English television actor
  • Daniel James Macdonnell "Dan" Heap (1925-2014), Canadian politician, Member of Parliament for Trinity-Spadina (1981-1988), Toronto City Councillor (1974-1978)
  • Aaron Heap, Assistant Professor of Mathematics at the University of Rochester
  • Imogen Heap (b. 1977), British singer-songwriter

Frank Rock Slide
  • Mr. F. Heap, Canadian engineer of Frank, Alberta who was buried in the Frank Rock Slide on 29th April 1903 [10]
HMS Repulse
  • Mr. Norman Heap, British Leading Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking [11]
RMS Lusitania
  • Mr. Harry Heap, English Boots Steward from Liverpool, England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking [12]


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. 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)
  3. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 22nd March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel-and-experiment
  4. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) ALICE BROOKS 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839AliceBrooks.gif
  5. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) BABOO 1840. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1840Baboo.htm
  6. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/duchess-of-northumberland
  7. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  8. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  9. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 2) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  10. Calgary Herald news article retrieved 11th August 2021. Retrieved from https://smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital/calgaryherald/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Calgary_Herald_Thu__Apr_30__1903_-copy-scaled.jpg
  11. HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
  12. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 10) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/


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