NameCensus.

UK surname

Hepburn

A Scottish habitational surname derived from a place near Haddington, meaning "high burial mound" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 2,641 people recorded with the Hepburn surname, ranking it #1,682 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,502, ranked #1,507, up from #1,682 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Glasgow. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Gardenstown and King Edward, Peterhead Ugieside and Macduff.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hepburn is 4,541 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 70.5%.

1881 census count

2,641

Ranked #1,682

Modern count

4,502

2016, ranked #1,507

Peak year

2010

4,541 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hepburn had 2,641 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,682 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,502 in 2016, ranked #1,507.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,435 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Hepburn surname distribution map

The map shows where the Hepburn surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Hepburn surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hepburn over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 1,714 #1,683
1861 historical 1,893 #1,532
1881 historical 2,641 #1,682
1891 historical 2,961 #1,593
1901 historical 3,435 #1,616
1911 historical 1,085 #4,278
1997 modern 4,036 #1,602
1998 modern 4,165 #1,620
1999 modern 4,240 #1,602
2000 modern 4,227 #1,592
2001 modern 4,092 #1,613
2002 modern 4,217 #1,587
2003 modern 4,092 #1,607
2004 modern 4,151 #1,584
2005 modern 4,134 #1,578
2006 modern 4,189 #1,560
2007 modern 4,221 #1,561
2008 modern 4,281 #1,548
2009 modern 4,425 #1,537
2010 modern 4,541 #1,534
2011 modern 4,437 #1,543
2012 modern 4,357 #1,544
2013 modern 4,450 #1,538
2014 modern 4,525 #1,527
2015 modern 4,484 #1,523
2016 modern 4,502 #1,507

Geography

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Where Hepburns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London parishes and Kirkcaldy Dysart and Abbotshall. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Gardenstown and King Edward, Peterhead Ugieside, Macduff, Glenfarg, Dunning and Rhynd and Fraserburgh Smiddyhill. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Glasgow Lanark
4 London parishes London 2
5 Kirkcaldy Dysart and Abbotshall Fife

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Gardenstown and King Edward Aberdeenshire
2 Peterhead Ugieside Aberdeenshire
3 Macduff Aberdeenshire
4 Glenfarg, Dunning and Rhynd Perth and Kinross
5 Fraserburgh Smiddyhill Aberdeenshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hepburn

These lists show first names that appear often with the Hepburn surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hepburn

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hepburn, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Hepburn surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Hepburn household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Hepburn is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hepburn is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hepburn falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hepburn is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Hepburn, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Hepburn

The surname Hepburn is of Scottish origin, derived from the name of a place in East Lothian, Scotland. The name is believed to have originated in the 12th century and is thought to come from the Old English words "hep" meaning "bramble" and "burn" meaning "stream" or "small river."

The earliest recorded instance of the Hepburn name dates back to around 1160, when it was mentioned in the Charter Rolls of King William the Lion of Scotland. It is also recorded in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a collection of homage rolls rendered to King Edward I of England by Scottish nobles and landowners.

One of the earliest and most notable Hepburns was Sir Adam Hepburn, who lived in the 13th century and was a prominent Scottish knight and landowner. He fought alongside King Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Scottish Independence against England.

The Hepburn family played a significant role in Scottish history, with several members holding important positions and titles. Sir Patrick Hepburn, who lived from around 1285 to 1325, was a Scottish nobleman and fought alongside King Robert the Bruce at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314.

In the 15th century, Patrick Hepburn, 1st Lord Hailes (c. 1390-1482), was a prominent Scottish statesman and one of the most powerful nobles in Scotland during his time. He served as Lord High Admiral of Scotland and was a trusted advisor to several Scottish kings.

Another notable Hepburn was James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell (c. 1536-1578), who was briefly married to Mary, Queen of Scots. He was a controversial figure and played a significant role in the turbulent events surrounding Mary's reign and eventual downfall.

Over time, the Hepburn name spread beyond Scotland, with descendants settling in various parts of the world, including England, Ireland, and North America. Some notable individuals with the Hepburn surname include Audrey Hepburn (1929-1993), the iconic British actress known for her roles in films such as "Breakfast at Tiffany's" and "Roman Holiday," and Katharine Hepburn (1907-2003), the legendary American actress who won four Academy Awards for Best Actress.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hepburn families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hepburn surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lanarkshire leads with 361 Hepburns recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.30x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 361 4.30x
Aberdeenshire 299 12.42x
Midlothian 232 6.66x
Fife 171 11.12x
Middlesex 170 0.65x
Perthshire 161 13.80x
Durham 137 1.77x
Banffshire 134 24.86x
Lancashire 93 0.30x
Surrey 86 0.68x
Renfrewshire 79 3.92x
Orkney 77 26.93x
Angus 72 2.99x
Northumberland 57 1.47x
East Lothian 55 15.98x
Kinross-shire 47 71.55x
Ayrshire 42 2.16x
Morayshire 40 9.91x
Kent 27 0.30x
Channel Islands 25 3.25x
Dumfriesshire 24 4.18x
Essex 22 0.43x
Inverness-shire 20 2.58x
Selkirkshire 20 8.51x
Yorkshire 20 0.08x
Kincardineshire 17 5.37x
Cumberland 15 0.67x
Gloucestershire 15 0.29x
Shetland 15 5.65x
West Lothian 15 3.83x
Kirkcudbrightshire 14 3.72x
Clackmannanshire 12 5.59x
Glamorgan 11 0.24x
Ross-shire 9 1.26x
Norfolk 8 0.20x
Dunbartonshire 7 1.00x
Sussex 6 0.14x
Staffordshire 5 0.06x
Bedfordshire 4 0.30x
Northamptonshire 4 0.16x
Somerset 4 0.10x
Stirlingshire 4 0.42x
Warwickshire 4 0.06x
Berwickshire 3 0.95x
Hampshire 3 0.06x
Montgomeryshire 3 0.50x
Royal Navy 3 0.97x
Carmarthenshire 2 0.18x
Hertfordshire 2 0.11x
Roxburghshire 2 0.42x
Argyllshire 1 0.14x
Cheshire 1 0.02x
Cornwall 1 0.03x
Devon 1 0.02x
Oxfordshire 1 0.06x
Peeblesshire 1 0.82x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 91 Hepburns recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.38x.

Place Total Index
Govan 91 4.38x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 87 6.21x
Barony 81 3.81x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 55 12.21x
Gamrie 46 76.44x
Glasgow 39 2.61x
Hackney London 34 2.33x
Aberdeen Old Machar 33 6.57x
Leslie 33 84.72x
Peterhead 33 25.93x
Shapinshay 33 380.62x
Cambusnethan 31 16.61x
Prestonkirk 30 174.32x
Abbotshall 29 50.45x
Pittington 27 124.20x
Carnwath 24 46.18x
Kinghorn 24 73.48x
Hamilton 22 9.39x
Liff Benvie 22 6.02x
South Leith 22 5.62x
Perth East Church 21 19.10x
St Helier 21 8.38x
Errol 20 92.55x
Marnoch 20 69.08x
Sherburn 20 85.00x
Strichen 20 95.65x
Auchterarder 19 58.35x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 19 5.67x
Lambeth 19 0.84x
West Greenock 19 5.26x
West Ham 19 1.68x
Dundee 18 2.00x
Orwell 18 99.39x
Pitsligo 18 78.26x
Stoke Newington London 18 8.89x
Tyrie 18 59.58x
Islington London 17 0.67x
King Edward 17 61.28x
St Pancras London 17 0.81x
Edinburgh St Stephens 16 23.35x
Lonmay 16 73.23x
Maryhill 16 9.73x
Moffat 16 61.07x
Camberwell 15 0.90x
Everton 15 1.53x
Fraserburgh 15 22.14x
Holm 15 156.58x
Bathgate 14 16.48x
Duddingston 14 20.03x
Edinburgh St Marys 14 20.69x
Elgin 14 17.82x
Inveravon 14 60.92x
Melrose 14 23.66x
Rathven 14 13.83x
St Marylebone London 14 1.01x
West Calder 14 20.40x
Cleish 13 293.45x
Lanark 13 19.23x
Monquhitter 13 52.17x
Alloa 12 11.53x
Abbey 11 3.58x
Arbroath 11 13.79x
Crieff 11 25.36x
Dunblane 11 39.41x
Dunfermline 11 4.65x
Kinross 11 48.85x
Manchester 11 0.79x
Perth Middle Church 11 25.08x
Tarbolton 11 34.36x
Barry 10 34.61x
Dunning 10 68.59x
Dysart 10 9.65x
Elswick 10 3.24x
Fordyce 10 25.79x
Hampstead London 10 2.47x
Kilmorack 10 42.50x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 10 4.33x
Newcastle On Tyne St 10 4.99x
St Andrews Deerness 10 66.53x
Westgate 10 4.18x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Hepburn surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Hepburn surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 36
William 33
George 29
Thomas 27
James 24
Henry 13
Charles 12
David 12
Robert 11
Alexander 10
Joseph 9
Alfred 8
Arthur 8
Edward 8
Harry 8
Andrew 6
Frank 5
Francis 4
Frederick 4
Peter 4
Albert 3
Archibald 3
Daniel 3
Edgar 3
Fredrick 3
J. 3
Percy 3
Richard 3
Walter 3
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Ewen 2
Herbert 2
Samuel 2
Wilson 2
Allan 1
Allen 1
Barnett 1
Chas. 1
Fred 1
Fred.C. 1
Frederic 1
Geo. 1
Jno. 1
Malcolm 1
Mark 1
Matthew 1
Michael 1
Patrick 1
Wm.A. 1

FAQ

Hepburn surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hepburn surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,641 people were recorded with the Hepburn surname. That placed it at #1,682 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hepburn surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,502 in 2016. That gives Hepburn a modern rank of #1,507.

What does the Hepburn surname mean?

A Scottish habitational surname derived from a place near Haddington, meaning "high burial mound" in Old English.

What does the Hepburn map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hepburn bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.