Show ContentsHepworth History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Hepworth is an old Anglo-Saxon name. It comes from when a family lived in either of the settlements called Hepworth in Suffolk and the West Riding of Yorkshire. The surname Hepworth belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Hepworth family

The surname Hepworth was first found in Yorkshire at Hepworth, a small village which dates back to at least the Domesday Book where it was listed as Heppeuuord 1and Heppeword, part of the Burghshire wapentake. 2 More recently, Hepworth is famous as one of the locations for the BBC's long-running comedy series Last of the Summer Wine.

Early History of the Hepworth family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hepworth research. Another 70 words (5 lines of text) covering the year 1257 is included under the topic Early Hepworth History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hepworth Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Hepworth were recorded, including Hepworth, Hepworthe and others.

Early Notables of the Hepworth family

Notables of the family at this time include

  • Steven Hepworth

Hepworth Ranking

In the United States, the name Hepworth is the 11,373rd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 3


Hepworth migration to the United States +

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Hepworth family emigrate to North America:

Hepworth Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Edw Hepworth, who landed in Virginia in 1663 4
  • John Hepworth, who arrived in Maryland in 1673 4
  • Hester Hepworth, who landed in Maryland in 1678 4
Hepworth Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Daniel Hepworth, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1821 4
  • James, Benjamin, Luke, Richard, Thomas and William Hepworth, who settled in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860
  • Mr. Edmund Hepworth, aged 22, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Cynosure" in 1863
  • Mrs. Hannah Hepworth, aged 28, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Cynosure" in 1863
  • Emily Hepworth, aged 19, who arrived in New York in 1864 4
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Hepworth Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Ernest Alfred Hepworth, aged 19, who landed in America from Manchester, in 1903
  • Charles Hepworth, aged 45, who landed in America from Dublin, Ireland, in 1907
  • Ernest Edward Hepworth, aged 30, who immigrated to America from Tydesley, England, in 1908
  • Alice Hepworth, aged 30, who landed in America from Tydesley, England, in 1908
  • Arthur Hepworth, aged 39, who settled in America from Huddersfield, England, in 1910
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hepworth migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Hepworth Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Charles Hepworth, aged 33, a engineer, who arrived in South Australia in 1858 aboard the ship "Bee"

Hepworth migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Hepworth Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mrs. Hannah Hepworth, (b. 1835), aged 24, English settler from Nottingham travelling from London aboard the ship "Zealandia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 14th November 1859 5
  • Mr. John Hepworth, (b. 1835), aged 24, English labourer from Nottingham travelling from London aboard the ship "Zealandia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 14th November 1859 5

Hepworth migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 6
Hepworth Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • Joseph Hepworth, who settled in Barbados in 1634
  • Joseph Hepworth, aged 33, who arrived in Barbados in 1634 aboard the ship "Hopewell" 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Hepworth (post 1700) +

  • R. G. Hepworth, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Kansas, 1936 7
  • Oliver H. Hepworth, American Republican politician, Member of New Hampshire State House of Representatives from Derry; Elected 1938; Delegate to New Hampshire State Constitutional Convention from Derry, 1948 7
  • Joseph Hepworth (1834-1911), English clothing manufacturer who founded Joseph Hepworth & Son, the United Kingdom's largest clothing manufacturer, now known as Next plc
  • Arthur Hepworth (1908-1988), English professional footballer
  • James Hepworth (b. 1975), English professional golfer
  • Jonny Hepworth (b. 1982), English rugby league and rugby union footballer
  • David Hepworth (b. 1950), British journalist and music writer
  • Cecil Milton Hepworth (1874-1953), English film director, producer and screenwriter
  • Harry James Hepworth (b. 2003), British artistic gymnast, bronze medalist at the 2024 Summer Olympics
  • Peter Nash Hepworth (b. 1967), British first class cricketer
  • ... (Another 3 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


The Hepworth 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: Loyal au mort
Motto Translation: Faithful unto death.


  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  2. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  3. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  4. 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)
  5. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  7. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 7) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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