Harpend History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The ancient name of Harpend finds its origins with the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It comes from a name for a person who played the harp deriving its origin from the Old French harpin, a person who played the harp. 1

Alternatively, the name could have been a patronymic name as in 'the son of Harpin,' probably from Harfinn. 2

Early Origins of the Harpend family

The surname Harpend was first found in Norfolk, where Thomas Harpyn was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. 2

William Harepin was a Knights Templar in 1185 and Harpin (with no forename) was listed in Yorkshire in 1231. 1

Adam Harpin was faulconer to Bishop Swinfield in 1289-90 and later the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 included: Henricus Harpyn; Magota Harpyn; and Johanna Harpyn. 2

Early History of the Harpend family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Harpend research. Another 39 words (3 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1289, 1379, 1686 and 1713 are included under the topic Early Harpend History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Harpend Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Harpend family name include Harpin, Herpin, Harpyn, Arpin, Harpen, Herpen and others.

Early Notables of the Harpend family

Another 33 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Harpend Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Harpend family

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, the Canadas, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Harpend surname or a spelling variation of the name include : Thomas Harpen, who sailed to Maryland in 1661; James Herpin, who went to Alabama in 1858; Jacob Herpin to Illinois in 1860; Henry and Joseph Herpin to Illinois in 1864..

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)