EPPS
Epps is a surname of English origin, traditionally associated with the British Isles. It is recorded as a Christian family name in England, borne by members of the English population since the Middle Ages.
The surname is believed to be derived from the medieval given name Epp, which itself is a diminutive form of the Anglo‑Saxon name Eadbeorht. In the original Old English, ead means “prosperity” or “fortune” and beorht means “bright” or “famous”. Consequently, the name Epps can be interpreted to signify “son of Epp” or “descendant of Epp”, linking the family to a heritage of prosperity and brightness.
Another theory proposes that the surname has a topographical origin, relating to the presence of an aspen tree in the landscape where an ancestor lived. The Middle English word apse, derived from Old English oeps or oespe, means “aspen”. Topographical surnames were among the earliest created, as communities used natural features to distinguish individuals. This suggests that the name Epps could have also functioned as a nickname for a person who lived near an aspen tree, or even as a descriptive moniker for a timid individual, as implied by the meaning of the root word.
Records from the early 13th century illustrate the earliest appearance of the name. The first documented spelling is John de Apse, dated 1214 in the “Kings Rolls of Surrey”, during the reign of King John (1199‑1216). Subsequent early records include Robert atte Hepse in the 1296 Subsidy Rolls of Sussex, and Thomas atte Apse in the 1327 Subsidy Rolls of Somerset.
Variations in spelling across the centuries have been noted, encompassing forms such as Aps, Asp, Epps, Happs and Hesp. London church registers contain multiple entries in the 17th century: the christening of Michael, son of Roger and Sara Apps, on 17 December 1665 at St. Dunstan, Stepney; the christening of Ralph, son of Roger and Sara Apps, on 13 February 1667, also at St. Dunstan, Stepney; and the christening of Thomas, son of Bedwine and Hannah Apps, on 2 November 1694 at St. James', Clerkenwell.
Throughout its history, the surname has remained firmly rooted within England, with documented usage in various counties such as Sussex, Somerset, Surrey and London. The persistence of the name across centuries reflects a stable lineage, adapted through several orthographic variations yet preserving its fundamental identity tied to the Anglo‑Saxon heritage and possibly to local natural landmarks.
Typical given names associated with the Epps surname
Male
- Anthony
- Brian
- Christopher
- David
- John
- Kirk
- Mark
- Matthew
- Michael
- Nicholas
- Richard
- Stephen
- Stuart
Female
- Claire
- Dorothy
- Elizabeth
- Gillian
- Jacqueline
- Jane
- Jean
- Jill
- Margaret
- Mary
- Nicola
- Ruth
- Sheila
- Susan
- Valerie
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Epps in...
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There are approximately 1,206 people named Epps in the UK. That makes it roughly the 6,407th most common surname in Britain. Around 19 in a million people in Britain are named Epps.
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Epps
- Tauheed Epps - American rapper from Georgia
- Omar Epps - Actor, musician
- John Epps - Homeopath (1805 to 1869)
- Michael Epps -
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.