Show ContentsHeptonstall History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The history of the Heptonstall family goes back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It is derived from the family living in the township of Heptonstall, which was in the parish of Halifax in the West Riding of Yorkshire. The surname Heptonstall belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. The Battle of Heptonstall in 1643 at Hebden Bridge and Heptonstall during the English civil war was a Royalist victory over the Parliamentarians.

Early Origins of the Heptonstall family

The surname Heptonstall was first found in Yorkshire, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the Heptonstall family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Heptonstall research. Another 237 words (17 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1296, 1500, 1558, 1668, 1797 and 1859 are included under the topic Early Heptonstall History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Heptonstall 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 Heptonstall include Hepenstal, Heponstall, Heptonstall, Hepponstall, Heptinstall, Hepinstall, Heppenstal and many more.

Early Notables of the Heptonstall family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

  • John de Heptonstall, a prominent 13th century landholder in Yorkshire

Ireland Migration of the Heptonstall family to Ireland

Some of the Heptonstall family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 67 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Heptonstall migration to the United States +

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Heptonstall or a variant listed above:

Heptonstall Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • William Heptonstall, who arrived in New York in 1831 [1]
  • Geoge E. Heptonstall, aged 11, who landed in America, in 1893
Heptonstall Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Harry Heptonstall, aged 41, who immigrated to America from Makefield, in 1903
  • Lilly Heptonstall, aged 50, who landed in America from Wakefield, England, in 1914

Contemporary Notables of the name Heptonstall (post 1700) +

  • M. M. Heptonstall, American politician, Prohibition Candidate for U.S. Senator from Iowa, 1942 [2]
  • Francis Bernard Heptonstall (b. 1925), birth name of Bernard Hepton, British actor and director of stage, film and television

HMS Hood
  • Mr. George A Heptonstall (b. 1920), English Able Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from Wakefield, Yorkshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking [3]


The Heptonstall 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: Virescrit vulnere virtus
Motto Translation: Her virtue flourishes by her wound.


  1. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  2. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 7) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  3. H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm


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