Find out how popular the last name Epps is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Epps.

Epps, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Epps surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Epps in America

Epps is the 1784th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Epps surname appeared 20,112 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 7 people would have the surname Epps.

We can also compare 2010 data for Epps to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Epps

The surname Epps originated in England, with its roots dating back to the medieval era. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from the Old English word "epp" or "oepp," which means a small stream or a minor watercourse. This suggests that the earliest bearers of this surname likely lived near a stream or a small river.

During the Anglo-Saxon period, the use of locational surnames became increasingly common, as people began to adopt surnames based on the places where they resided. The Epps surname likely emerged from one of the numerous locations across England that contained a small stream or a brook, such as the village of Epps in Sussex.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Epps surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which lists a Richard de Epp residing in Oxfordshire. This document serves as a valuable historical reference, providing evidence of the surname's existence and its geographical distribution during that era.

Another notable mention of the Epps surname appears in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from the year 1301, where a John Epps is recorded as a landowner. This ancient record further solidifies the surname's presence in England during the late 13th and early 14th centuries.

Among the notable individuals who bore the Epps surname throughout history is Sir George Epps (1530-1589), a prominent English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Tewkesbury during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another noteworthy figure was John Epps (1661-1736), an English Baptist minister and theologian, who played a significant role in the development of Baptist thought and theology during the late 17th and early 18th centuries.

In the realm of literature, Mary Ann Epps (1819-1868) was an English novelist and writer, known for her works such as "The Autobiography of a Working Man" and "The Experiences of a Governess."

The Epps surname has also been associated with notable figures in science and medicine. Sir John Epps (1805-1869) was an English physician and chemist, renowned for his contributions to the field of food science and his advocacy for public health reforms.

Lastly, John Epps Jr. (1825-1916) was an English horticulturist and botanist, known for his work on plant breeding and his role in introducing new plant species to the United Kingdom from various parts of the world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Epps

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Epps.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Epps was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Epps has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Epps was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Epps, please contact us.

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