NameCensus.

UK surname

Hepple

A locational surname originating from Hepple in Northumberland, England.

In the 1881 census there were 643 people recorded with the Hepple surname, ranking it #5,543 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,129, ranked #5,219, up from #5,543 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead and Ryton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northumberland, Newcastle upon Tyne and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hepple is 1,169 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 75.6%.

1881 census count

643

Ranked #5,543

Modern count

1,129

2016, ranked #5,219

Peak year

1998

1,169 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hepple had 643 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,543 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,129 in 2016, ranked #5,219.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 920 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Hepple surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hepple surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hepple 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 372 #6,397
1861 historical 375 #6,817
1881 historical 643 #5,543
1891 historical 699 #5,606
1901 historical 782 #5,746
1911 historical 920 #4,871
1997 modern 1,146 #4,896
1998 modern 1,169 #4,988
1999 modern 1,149 #5,116
2000 modern 1,134 #5,142
2001 modern 1,109 #5,133
2002 modern 1,132 #5,160
2003 modern 1,076 #5,275
2004 modern 1,119 #5,110
2005 modern 1,100 #5,127
2006 modern 1,077 #5,226
2007 modern 1,109 #5,150
2008 modern 1,118 #5,155
2009 modern 1,148 #5,147
2010 modern 1,150 #5,242
2011 modern 1,148 #5,187
2012 modern 1,117 #5,220
2013 modern 1,135 #5,230
2014 modern 1,138 #5,252
2015 modern 1,143 #5,187
2016 modern 1,129 #5,219

Geography

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Where Hepples are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead, Ryton, Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) and Newburn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northumberland, Newcastle upon Tyne, County Durham and Gateshead. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Ryton Durham
4 Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) Northumberland
5 Newburn Northumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northumberland 038 Northumberland
2 Newcastle upon Tyne 014 Newcastle upon Tyne
3 County Durham 040 County Durham
4 Northumberland 029 Northumberland
5 Gateshead 009 Gateshead

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hepple

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hepple

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hepple, 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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Hepple surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Hepple household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Hepple is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hepple is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hepple falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hepple is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Hepple

The surname Hepple has its origins in England, specifically from the northeastern region of Northumberland. It is believed to have derived from a place name, likely referring to a town or village where the earliest bearers of the name resided.

One theory suggests that the name Hepple may have evolved from the Old English words "hæp" meaning a small haven or inlet, and "hyll" meaning a hill. This could indicate that the original settlement was situated near a coastal inlet or hill, providing a descriptive name for the area and its inhabitants.

Another possibility is that Hepple is derived from the Old English word "heopol," meaning a bramble or thicket, suggesting that the area was densely covered with bushes or thorny vegetation.

While there are no definitive records of the name Hepple in the Domesday Book of 1086, it is likely that the name existed during that time period, as place names were often adopted as surnames by those who lived in or were associated with those locations.

One of the earliest documented references to the surname Hepple is found in the Pipe Rolls of Northumberland from 1230, where a John de Heppal is mentioned. This spelling variation reflects the evolution of the name over time.

In the 14th century, records show a William de Hepple who owned land in Northumberland. This indicates that the Hepple family had established roots and landholdings in the region by that point.

A notable figure bearing the Hepple surname was Sir Robert Hepple (c. 1540-1619), who served as a member of the Privy Council under Queen Elizabeth I and King James I. He played a significant role in the administration of the northern counties of England.

Another prominent individual was William Hepple (1609-1678), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Peterhouse, Cambridge from 1671 until his death.

In the 19th century, John Hepple (1800-1873) was a celebrated English artist known for his landscapes and maritime scenes, many of which depicted the Northumberland coast and countryside.

Robert Hepple (1877-1963), born in Newcastle upon Tyne, was an English footballer who played as a goalkeeper for various clubs, including Newcastle United and Middlesbrough, in the early 20th century.

More recently, Bob Hepple (1934-2015) was a prominent British legal scholar and academic who made significant contributions to the field of labor law and human rights throughout his career.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hepple families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hepple 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. Durham leads with 320 Hepples recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.39x.

County Total Index
Durham 320 17.39x
Northumberland 221 24.02x
Yorkshire 35 0.57x
Cumberland 19 3.57x
Lancashire 17 0.23x
Middlesex 6 0.10x
Sussex 6 0.58x
Surrey 4 0.13x
Roxburghshire 2 1.79x
Berwickshire 1 1.34x
Cheshire 1 0.07x
Hampshire 1 0.08x
Midlothian 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Gateshead in Durham leads with 34 Hepples recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.68x.

Place Total Index
Gateshead 34 24.68x
Westoe 33 31.64x
Winlaton 33 186.97x
Bishopwearmouth 30 19.00x
Benwell 21 208.75x
Brandon Byshottles 20 86.77x
Chirton 18 86.46x
Heworth 17 46.88x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 16 20.08x
Waldridge 13 422.08x
Westgate 13 22.81x
Houghton Close House 11 2972.97x
Mitford 10 2083.33x
Sunderland 10 30.78x
Wingate 10 79.30x
Chester Le Street 9 63.69x
Everton 9 3.85x
Holy Trinity 9 6.11x
Byker 8 17.59x
Cowpen 8 37.75x
Elswick 8 10.89x
Farlam 8 238.81x
Langley 8 2962.96x
Medomsley 8 93.24x
Mirfield 8 23.77x
Wakefield 8 17.00x
Wallsend 8 27.42x
Blenkinsopp 7 451.61x
Harton 7 96.29x
Hutton Henry 7 180.88x
Old Park 7 360.82x
Throckley 7 275.59x
Cambo 6 3157.89x
Chollerton 6 232.56x
Heaton Norris 6 14.36x
Heddon On Wall 6 535.71x
Hedley 6 1463.41x
Hetton Le Hole 6 25.73x
Melkridge 6 923.08x
Mickley 6 206.90x
Newcastle On Tyne St 6 12.58x
Tynemouth 6 12.18x
Bingfield 5 3571.43x
Eastbourne 5 10.42x
Harrington 5 77.76x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 5 9.10x
South Shields 5 30.51x
Usworth 5 51.18x
Birtley 4 53.26x
Branxton 4 851.06x
Cocken 4 347.83x
Cramlington 4 32.89x
Dearham 4 56.98x
Shildon 4 27.05x
Stockley 4 171.67x
Wall Town 4 3076.92x
Wolsingham 4 23.85x
Wylam 4 197.04x
Backworth 3 122.95x
Kimblesworth 3 121.95x
Preston In Tynemouth 3 82.87x
St Pancras London 3 0.60x
Staindrop 3 107.53x
Broomley 2 243.90x
Capheaton 2 526.32x
Fulwell 2 178.57x
Hartlepool 2 7.65x
Haswell 2 15.16x
Hawes 2 49.88x
Hedon 2 97.09x
Jesmond 2 15.44x
Kelso 2 17.92x
Longbenton 2 5.13x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 2 16.53x
Newington 2 0.88x
Poulton Le Fylde 2 76.92x
Skipton 2 10.37x
Stranton 2 3.23x
Tooting Graveney 2 23.84x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 0.30x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 55
Elizabeth 30
Margaret 26
Jane 22
Isabella 20
Ann 15
Sarah 13
Ellen 12
Annie 8
Dorothy 6
Eleanor 6
Hannah 6
Alice 5
Barbara 5
Martha 5
Catherine 4
Frances 4
Caroline 3
Dinah 3
Emily 3
Agnes 2
Elizh. 2
Elizth. 2
Maggie 2
Margret 2
Margt. 2
Maria 2
Upin 2
Annabell 1
Anny 1
Atarah 1
Bertha 1
Betsy 1
Clamentine 1
Clara 1
Deborah 1
Dina 1
E. 1
Edith 1
Elenor 1
Eliz. 1
Eliza 1
Georgina 1
Grace 1
Hanah 1
Hariet 1
Isabell 1
Isobella 1
Janet 1
Laura 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 51
Thomas 41
Robert 36
William 34
George 27
Joseph 17
James 13
Edward 10
Matthew 8
Richard 7
Henry 5
Robt. 5
Charles 4
Edmund 4
David 3
Ralph 3
Thos. 3
Geo. 2
Peter 2
Alfred 1
Andrew 1
Anthony 1
Bartholomew 1
Benjn.Seymour 1
Cuthbert 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Fred. 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Geo.H. 1
Geo.Lawson 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Hutchison 1
Jabez 1
Jas. 1
Jas.Wm. 1
Jos.Ed. 1
Lawson 1
Lewis 1
Mattw. 1
Michael 1
Oliver 1
Percy 1
Richd.J.D. 1
Rodger 1
Tristram 1
Valentine 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Hepple surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hepple surname in 1881?

In 1881, 643 people were recorded with the Hepple surname. That placed it at #5,543 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hepple surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,129 in 2016. That gives Hepple a modern rank of #5,219.

What does the Hepple surname mean?

A locational surname originating from Hepple in Northumberland, England.

What does the Hepple map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hepple 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.