Show ContentsHebboourn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Hebboourn

What does the name Hebboourn mean?

In the annals of British history, few names go farther back than Hebboourn, which started among the people of the Boernician tribe. The first family to use the name Hebboourn lived in Northumberland, in the village of Hebburn in the parish of Chillingham.

Early Origins of the Hebboourn family

The surname Hebboourn was first found in Northumberland at Hebburn, a township, in the parish of Chillingham, union of Glendale. "There are some remains of an ancient castle, built, and long occupied, by a family which took its name from the village." 1 Now part of the Tyne and Wear county, Hebburn dates back to about 1104-08 when it was first listed as Heabyrn. Literally the place name means "high burial place or tumulus," from the Old English words "heah" + "byrgen." 2 One of the first records of the name was Thomas de Heburn who was listed in the Assize Rolls of Northumberland in 1279. 3

Early History of the Hebboourn family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hebboourn research. Another 137 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1279, 1329, 1550, 1563, 1612 and 1660 are included under the topic Early Hebboourn History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hebboourn Spelling Variations

During the era when a person's name, tribe and posterity was one of his most important possessions, many different spellings were found in the archives examined. Hebboourn occurred in many references, and spelling variations of the name found included Hepburn, Heyburn, Hepborne, Hepbourne, Hepbourn and others.

Early Notables of the Hebboourn family

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

Migration of the Hebboourn family to Ireland

Some of the Hebboourn family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 36 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Hebboourn family

Gradually becoming disenchanted with life in Ireland many of these uprooted families sailed aboard the armada of sailing ships known as the "White Sails" which plied the stormy Atlantic. These overcrowded ships often arrived with only 60 to 70% of their original passenger list, many dying of illness and the elements, were buried at sea. In North America, early immigrants bearing the family name Hebboourn, or a spelling variation of the surname include: Thomas Hepburn, who settled in Baltimore in 1792; George Hepborne settled in Boston along with Anne, Rebecca, and Anna in 1635; Francis Hepbourne settled in Maryland in 1769..



The Hebboourn 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: Keep Tryst


  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)


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