Show ContentsHepboyrne History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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

Early Origins of the Hepboyrne family

The surname Hepboyrne 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 Hepboyrne family

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

Hepboyrne Spelling Variations

Although the name, Hepboyrne, appeared in many references, from time to time, the surname was shown with the spellings Hepburn, Heyburn, Hepborne, Hepbourne, Hepbourn and others.

Early Notables of the Hepboyrne family

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

Migration of the Hepboyrne family to Ireland

Some of the Hepboyrne 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 Hepboyrne 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 cholera, typhoid, dysentery or small pox. In North America, some of the first immigrants who could be considered kinsmen of the Hepboyrne family name Hepboyrne, or who bore a variation of the surname were 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..



  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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