Show ContentsEbden History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Ebden surname is thought to be derived from one of several place names in West Yorkshire. The place names come from the Old English "heope," or "(rose) hip," and "denu," which meant "valley." 1

Early Origins of the Ebden family

The surname Ebden was first found in the West Riding of Yorkshire at Hebden, a township, in the parish of Linton, union of Skipton, E. division of the wapentake of Staincliffe and Ewcross. 2 3 This township dates back to the Domesday Book where it was recorded as Hebedene. 4

In the same West Riding, the village of Hebden Bridge which "derives its name from the river Hebden, which divides the village into two portions, communicating with each other by two neat bridges." 2 The first record for this village was in 1399 when it was recorded as Hepdenbryge. 1

In 1120 the manor of Hebden was granted by Roger de Mowbray to Uctred de Hebden, who was a descendant of Uctred, Earl of Northumberland. The Curia Regis Rolls of 1208 lists Elias de Heppedon in 1208 and later the Feet of Fines for Yorkshire lists William de Hebbeden in 1312. 5

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 include Dionisius de Hebdeyn, and Adam de Hebden, Salter, was listed as a Freemen of York, 1 Edward III (during the first year of the reign of Edward III. 6

"The Hebdens, who derive their name from more than one West Riding village, are probably for the most part descended from an ancient gentle family of Ripon during the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries, where they frequently filled the office of wakeman and afterwards of mayor. William de Hebden was rector of Burnsall in the reign of Edward III. Baker Hebdon was warden of Hull in 1761 (Tickell's "Hull"). The Hebdens are now numerous in the district of Bedale, and they are still represented in Ripon." 7

Further to the north in Scotland, "a family of this name possessed the island of Eday, Orkney, in the nineteenth century. [The family was] probably from one or other of the villages of the name in the West Riding of Yorkshire. William de Hebden was rector of Burnsall, Yorkshire, in the reign of Edward III." 8

Early History of the Ebden family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ebden research. Another 148 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1220, 1612, 1670, 1738, 1755, 1763 and 1811 are included under the topic Early Ebden History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ebden Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Ebden include Hebden, Hebdon, Heberden, Hepden, Habton, Habdon, Hibdon, Hibden, Ebdon and many more.

Early Notables of the Ebden family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • William Hebden, Rector of Burnsall, Sir John Hebden, a Russian merchant agent for Tsar Alexis embassy to Russia for Charles II; and his son, Sir John Hebdon (1612-1670.) His father is buried at Lower...


Ebden migration to Australia +

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

Ebden Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Miss Frances Ebden, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Broxbournebury" in January 1814, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9

Ebden 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:

Ebden Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Ebden, Australian settler travelling from Melbourne, Victoria aboard the ship "Dunedin" arriving in Dunedin, South Island, New Zealand on 14th November 1859 10
  • Mrs. Ebden, Australian settler travelling from Melbourne, Victoria aboard the ship "Dunedin" arriving in Dunedin, South Island, New Zealand on 14th November 1859 10

Ebden migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 11
Ebden Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • John Ebden who settled in Barbados in 1670

Contemporary Notables of the name Ebden (post 1700) +

  • John Bardwell Ebden M.L.C. (1787-1873), English businessman and politician of the Cape Colony, South Africa
  • Charles Hotson Ebden (1811-1867), South African-born, Australian pastoralist and politician, a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council, the Victorian Legislative Council and the Victorian Legislative Assembly
  • Peter Ebden (1982-2000), New Zealand archer at the 2000 Summer Olympics
  • Matthew Ebden (b. 1987), South African-born Australian professional tennis player


The Ebden 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: Re e merito
Motto Translation: This through merit.


  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  3. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  4. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  5. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  6. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  7. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  8. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  9. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/broxbournebury
  10. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  11. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies


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