Heffner History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany

Early Origins of the Heffner family

The surname Heffner was first found in Somerset, where the name first appears in written records in the 14th century. The name Heffner, like many surnames, is an occupational surname, coming from whatever job the first bearer did for a living. In this case, the name is metonymic, coming from an object associated with the job, rather than the name of the job itself; the first bearer of the name was a farmer who herded cattle. A young cow is called a heifer, and it is from this that the name arises.

Early History of the Heffner family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Heffner research. Another 51 words (4 lines of text) covering the year 1327 is included under the topic Early Heffner History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Heffner Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Heffer, Heiffer, Heffner, Hayfour, Heifers and many more.

Early Notables of the Heffner family

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

Heffner Ranking

In the United States, the name Heffner is the 3,743^rd most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 1

Heffner migration to the United States +

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Heffner or a variant listed above:

Heffner Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Nickel Heffner, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1738
Johan Geo Heffner, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1749 2
Johann Heffner, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1752 2
Lorentz Heffner, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1752 2

Heffner Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

John G Heffner, who arrived in Maryland in 1810 2
Anton S Heffner, who landed in Colorado in 1882 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Heffner (post 1700) +

Kyle Troy Heffner, American television and film actor
Raymond Lorenzo Heffner (b. 1925), retired University Professor and former president of Brown University
Richard Douglas Heffner (1925-1956), American creator and host of The Open Mind, a public affairs television show first broadcast in 1956
Robert Frederic "Bob" Heffner (b. 1938), American Major League Baseball player
Donald "Don" Heffner (1911-1989), American Major League Baseball second-baseman
William Heffner, American Republican politician, Postmaster at Shreveport, Louisiana, 1867-69 3
Samuel F. Heffner, American politician, Mayor of Coatesville, Pennsylvania, 1953-55 3
George S. Heffner, American Republican politician, Mayor of Pottsville, Pennsylvania, 1953-56 3
George R. Heffner, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Maryland, 1900 3
Mrs. C. E. Heffner, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Arkansas, 1940, 1944 3
... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Heffner 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: Dieu et mon droit
Motto Translation: God, and my right.

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 12) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html