Show ContentsHalpern History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Halpern was formed many centuries ago by the ancient Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It was a name typically given to a person who because of his physical characteristics was referred to as Halfpenn. This person had a slim or slight build and was given this surname as a means of identity. The surname may have also local origins, which would explain Halfpenn Field in Cambridgeshire. The residents gave half a penny per acre to repair the Needham Dyke in that county. [1] A bord halfpenny, or brod halfpenny, was a fee paid in markets and fairs by the Saxons to the lord for the privilege of having a bord or bench for the sale of articles.

"Halfpenny is found written Halpeny and Halpeni; and Allpenny and Alpenny are perhaps the same name. " [2]

Early Origins of the Halpern family

The surname Halpern was first found in Worcestershire where Adam Halpeni was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of 1275. A few years later, Richard Halfpany was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1296. [1]

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included: William Halpeni, Oxfordshire; Richard Halpeny, Oxfordshire; and Walter Halpeni, Devon as all holding lands at that time. [3]

In Somerset, Juliana Halpeny and Robert Halpeny, were listed there 1 Edward III (during the first year of the reign of King Edward I.) [4]

Early History of the Halpern family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Halpern research. Another 104 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1598, 1729, 1736, 1752, 1816 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Halpern History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Halpern Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Halpern include Halfpenny, Halpin(Limerick), Halpeny(Monaghan), Halpern and many more.

Early Notables of the Halpern family

Distinguished members of the family include William Halfpenny, alias Michael Hoare (fl. 1752), who styles himself architect and carpenter on the title-page of some of his works, appears to have resided at Richmond, Surrey, and in London during the first half of the eighteenth century. " Batty Langley describes him in his ‘Ancient Masonry’ (1736), p. 147, as ‘Mr. William Halfpeny, alias Hoare, lately of Richmond in Surrey, carpenter,’ and seems...
Another 70 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Halpern Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Halpern Ranking

In the United States, the name Halpern is the 7,405th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. [5]

Ireland Migration of the Halpern family to Ireland

Some of the Halpern family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 113 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Halpern migration to the United States +

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:

Halpern Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Abraham Halpern, aged 21, arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Cubadist" from Antilla, Cuba [6]
  • Herman Halpern, aged 14, originally from Bolechow, Poland, arrived in New York in 1920 aboard the ship "Nieuw Amsterdam" from Rotterdam, Netherlands [6]
  • Marjein Halpern, aged 16, originally from Lutowisher, Poland, arrived in New York in 1920 aboard the ship "Canada" from Marseilles, France [6]

Contemporary Notables of the name Halpern (post 1700) +

  • Mortimer Halpern (1909-2006), American actor and production stage manager who worked on over 45 Broadway plays
  • Joseph Y Halpern (b. 1953), American Professor of Computer Science at Cornell University
  • Jeff Halpern (b. 1976), American former NHL hockey player who played from 1999 to 2014
  • Daniel Halpern, American author and editorial director of The Ecco Press, an imprint of HarperCollins
  • Jake Halpern (b. 1975), American writer, commentator, and radio producer
  • Sir Ralph Mark Halpern (1938-2022), British businessman, founder of Topshop and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Burton Group from 1979 to 1991
  • Jack Halpern (b. 1925), Polish chemist and professor at the University of Chicago
  • Ida Halpern (1910-1987), Austrian musicologist


  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Charnock, Richard, Stephen, Ludus Patronymicus of The Etymology of Curious Surnames. London: Trubner & Co., 60 Paternoster Row, 1868. Print.
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  4. Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
  5. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  6. Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result


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