Show ContentsHerbein History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Herbein finds its origins with the ancient Anglo-Saxons of England. It was given to one who worked as 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 Herbein family

The surname Herbein 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 Herbein family

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

Herbein Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore, spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Herbein has been recorded under many different variations, including Harpin, Herpin, Harpyn, Arpin, Harpen, Herpen and others.

Early Notables of the Herbein family

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


United States Herbein migration to the United States +

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Herbein or a variant listed above:

Herbein Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Jonathan Herbein, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1720 [3]
  • Peter Herbein, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1732 [3]
  • Abraham Herbein, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1732 [3]

Contemporary Notables of the name Herbein (post 1700) +

  • William C. Herbein, American co-recipient of the 2000 Maurice Holland Award
  • William B. Herbein (b. 1950), American politician, Mayor of Topton, Pennsylvania


  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. 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)


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