Show ContentsHapgood History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Hapgood surname is derived from the Old English "habban," meaning "god," as in "may he have good." [1]

Early Origins of the Hapgood family

The surname Hapgood was first found in Somerset where John Hauegod was on record in 1280. Later, John Habbegod was found in Gloucestershire in 1343. [1]

Early History of the Hapgood family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hapgood research. Another 84 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1343, 1455, 1487 and 1545 are included under the topic Early Hapgood History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hapgood 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 Hapgood has undergone many spelling variations, including Hapgood, Habgood, Havegood, Habbgood, Abgood and many more.

Early Notables of the Hapgood family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • Hapgood of Somerset

Hapgood Ranking

In Newfoundland, Canada, the name Hapgood is the 808th most popular surname with an estimated 50 people with that name. [2]


United States Hapgood 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 Hapgood were among those contributors:

Hapgood Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Shadrach Hapgood, who arrived in Massachusetts in 1656 [3]
  • Shadrach Hapgood, who settled in Massachusetts in 1656, aboard the "Speedwell"
Hapgood Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • N Hapgood, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1850 [3]
  • John Hapgood, who arrived in San Francisco in 1852
  • Charles Hapgood, aged 58, who arrived in New York in 1894 aboard the ship "LaChampagne" from Havre, France [4]
  • Norman Hapgood, aged 27, who arrived in New York in 1895 aboard the ship "Saint Louis" from Southampton, England [4]
Hapgood Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Norman Hapgood, aged 51, who arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Frederik VIII" from Copenhagen, Denmark [4]
  • Elizabeth Hapgood, aged 25, who arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Frederik VIII" from Copenhagen, Denmark [4]
  • Elizabeth Hapgood, aged 1, who arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Frederik VIII" from Copenhagen, Denmark [4]
  • Norman Hapgood, who arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Frederik VIII" from Copenhagen, Denmark [4]
  • William C. Hapgood, aged 22, who arrived in New York in 1920 aboard the ship "Lake Greenbrier" from Gibraltar, Spain [4]

Contemporary Notables of the name Hapgood (post 1700) +

  • Norman Hapgood (1868-1937), American politician, U.S. Minister to Denmark, 1919 [5]
  • Mary D. Hapgood, American politician, Candidate for Governor of Massachusetts, 1928 [5]
  • K. N. Hapgood, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Texas, 1912 [5]
  • Powers Hapgood (1899-1949), American Trade Union Organizer and Socialist Party leader known for his involvement with the United Mine Workers in the 1920s
  • Norman Hapgood (1868-1937), American writer, journalist, editor, and critic
  • Charles Hutchins Hapgood (1904-1982), American college professor and author
  • Edris Albert "Eddie" Hapgood (1908-1973), English footballer, who captained both Arsenal and England during the 1930s


  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  3. 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)
  4. Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
  5. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 29) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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