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

Hedgepeth, 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 Hedgepeth surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hedgepeth in America

Hedgepeth is the 9741st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hedgepeth surname appeared 3,327 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Hedgepeth.

We can also compare 2010 data for Hedgepeth 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 Hedgepeth

The surname Hedgepeth has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from an Old English word "hedge," which referred to a fence or boundary, and "path," meaning a track or way. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a hedged path or a pathway surrounded by hedges.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Hedgepath." This entry likely refers to a location or settlement rather than an individual, indicating that the name was already in use as a place name during the Norman conquest of England.

In the 13th century, records show variations of the name, such as "Hedgepatte" and "Hegepeth," further solidifying its connection to the Old English roots. These early spellings also hint at the possible regional dialects and pronunciations that contributed to the evolution of the name over time.

One notable individual bearing the name Hedgepeth was Sir John Hedgepeth, a British military officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars. He was born in 1782 and died in 1856. His distinguished service earned him recognition and honors from the British Crown.

Another historical figure with this surname was William Hedgepeth, a prominent merchant and landowner in the 16th century. Records indicate that he owned substantial properties in the county of Norfolk, England, and was involved in the wool trade, which was a significant industry at the time.

In the 17th century, the Hedgepeth name appeared in various parish records across England, particularly in the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex. This suggests that the name had spread and established itself in different regions of the country by that point.

One intriguing reference to the name can be found in the works of the famous English playwright, William Shakespeare. In his play "Henry VI, Part 2," a character named Hedgepeth is mentioned, though it is unclear whether Shakespeare was referring to a specific individual or using the name as a fictional character.

Despite its English origins, the Hedgepeth name has since spread to other parts of the world, likely through migration and exploration. However, its deep-rooted history and connection to the English landscape and language remain an integral part of its fascinating etymology.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hedgepeth

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

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 Hedgepeth 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 Hedgepeth 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 Hedgepeth was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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