Hepburn
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Hepburn Genealogy
The surname Hepburn is thought to have come from Hebron or Hebburn, small villages in Northumberland in the north of England. But it could alternatively have a Scottish origin, meaning something like the "house beside the water" as burn is a widely used Scots word to mean river.
The main Hepburn branch in Scotland originated in East Lothian where Adam Hepburn was granted land for having saved the Earl of March from a horse that had lost control. Chillingham castle on the Scottish border was their family's seat until the eighteenth century. They became one of the great barons of Scotland and were ennobled as the Earls of Bothwell. They are probably best remembered for the Bothwell who married Mary Queen of Scots and then fled to the Continent with blood on his hands. There were also Hepburn families in East Lothian at Waughton, Beanston, and Athelstaneford. Today, Robin Hepburn runs his Waughton financial communications company in London.
Not all Hepburns were well-to-do. Thomas Hepburn was a Durham miner who tried to unionize his colliery in the 1830's, but with little success. One Hepburn account starts with a docker on the Clyde who moved south to the East End of London.
Some Scots Hepburns migrated to America. The earliest might have been James Hepburn who arrived in Maryland around 1650. The actress Katherine Hepburn is believed to have come from this line. Other Hepburn lines can be found in Canada and the Bahamas.
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Sir John Hepburn from Athelstaneford was a distinguished soldier for Sweden and France in their wars in the early 17th century.
Katherine Hepburn was a celebrated American actress.
Audrey Hepburn, another celebrated actress, took her Hepburn name from her maternal grandmother, Kathleen Hepburn.
Select Hepburns Today
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The Origin/Spread of Surnames
The surname Hepburn is thought to have come from Hebron or Hebburn, small villages in Northumberland in the north of England. But it could alternatively have a Scottish origin, meaning something like the "house beside the water" as burn is a widely used Scots word to mean river.
Select
Hepburn Resources on
The
Internet
- The Hepburn Clan. Hepburn clan family history.
The main Hepburn branch in Scotland originated in East Lothian where Adam Hepburn was granted land for having saved the Earl of March from a horse that had lost control. Chillingham castle on the Scottish border was their family's seat until the eighteenth century. They became one of the great barons of Scotland and were ennobled as the Earls of Bothwell. They are probably best remembered for the Bothwell who married Mary Queen of Scots and then fled to the Continent with blood on his hands. There were also Hepburn families in East Lothian at Waughton, Beanston, and Athelstaneford. Today, Robin Hepburn runs his Waughton financial communications company in London.
Not all Hepburns were well-to-do. Thomas Hepburn was a Durham miner who tried to unionize his colliery in the 1830's, but with little success. One Hepburn account starts with a docker on the Clyde who moved south to the East End of London.
Some Scots Hepburns migrated to America. The earliest might have been James Hepburn who arrived in Maryland around 1650. The actress Katherine Hepburn is believed to have come from this line. Other Hepburn lines can be found in Canada and the Bahamas.
Select Hepburn Names
Sir John Hepburn from Athelstaneford was a distinguished soldier for Sweden and France in their wars in the early 17th century.
Katherine Hepburn was a celebrated American actress.
Audrey Hepburn, another celebrated actress, took her Hepburn name from her maternal grandmother, Kathleen Hepburn.
Select Hepburns Today
- 8,000 in the UK (most numerous in Glasgow)
- 1,000 in America (most numerous in Florida)
- 4,000 elsewhere (most numerous in Canada)
Select Index of Names
The Origin/Spread of Surnames