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

Heppard, 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 Heppard surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Heppard in America

Heppard is the 79075th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Heppard surname appeared 241 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Heppard.

We can also compare 2010 data for Heppard 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 Heppard

The surname Heppard is believed to have originated in England, with roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is thought to be a variant of the Old English name "Heopard" or "Heopord," which means "shepherd" or "keeper of sheep." This occupational name was likely given to someone whose primary responsibility was tending to flocks of sheep.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Heppard can be traced back to the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. In this document, the name is spelled "Hepeword," closely resembling the Old English variant.

During the 13th century, the name appears in various historical records, often associated with rural areas and villages where shepherding was a common occupation. One notable example is John Heppard, a landowner from the village of Ashton in Somerset, mentioned in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1327.

In the 16th century, the surname Heppard began to appear more frequently in official records, with variations in spelling such as "Heppart," "Hepard," and "Hepper." This period saw the emergence of several notable individuals bearing this surname, including William Heppard, a merchant from Bristol who was involved in the wool trade during the reign of Elizabeth I.

The 17th century brought further instances of the Heppard name, particularly in the county of Lancashire. One significant figure was Robert Heppard, a Puritan minister who served as a rector in the town of Bury from 1642 to 1662. During the same period, the name was also found in the parish records of Wigan, where a family of Heppards resided.

In the 18th century, the Heppard surname gained prominence in the city of London. One notable figure was Thomas Heppard, a successful banker and philanthropist who lived from 1738 to 1821. He was known for his generous contributions to various charitable causes and institutions.

The 19th century saw the Heppard name spread across different regions of England, as well as to other parts of the British Isles and beyond. Notable individuals from this period include Sir John Heppard (1799-1876), a distinguished military officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars and later became a Member of Parliament.

Throughout its history, the surname Heppard has maintained a strong connection to its occupational roots, often associated with rural communities and the shepherding profession. While the name has evolved in spelling over time, its origins can be traced back to the Old English word "heopord," a testament to the enduring legacy of this once-common occupation.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Heppard

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

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

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

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