Hepburn
Encyclopedia
Hepburn is a family name of the Anglo-Scottish Border
, that is associated with a variety of famous personages, eponym
s, places, and things. Although commonly a Scottish
name its origins lie to the south of the border in the north of England
. Specifically, the name is thought to have derived from either the town of Hebron or Hebburn
, both of which are in Northumberland
. The origins of the name are suggested to be the same as that of Hebborne from the Old English
words heah ("high") and byrgen ("burial mound"). Alternatively it could mean something along the lines of "high place beside the water", as the word burn is a still widely used in Northumbrian and Scots
for stream.
Next to Chillingham Castle
there remains a bastle tower
where the family originated. This was the seat of a line of the family until the eighteenth century when that branch died out, having left only a female heir. However, it is as the Earls of Bothwell
that the Hepburn family are perhaps best remembered. This branch of the family originated in Lothian
when a Hepburn was granted land having saved the Earl of March
from a horse that had lost control. This family first became the Lords of Hailes
before being granted the Earldom of Bothwell
.
There were also Hepburns of Waughton, thought by some to have branched off from the Hailes line, thought by others to predate it. Another line was the Hepburns of Beanston, and yet another was the Hepburns of Athelstaneford. All of these families were prominent in various ways at various junctures of Scottish history, but all were primarily located around the East Lothian
area.
Anglo-Scottish border
The Anglo-Scottish border is the official border and mark of entry between Scotland and England. It runs for 154 km between the River Tweed on the east coast and the Solway Firth in the west. It is Scotland's only land border...
, that is associated with a variety of famous personages, eponym
Eponym
An eponym is the name of a person or thing, whether real or fictitious, after which a particular place, tribe, era, discovery, or other item is named or thought to be named...
s, places, and things. Although commonly a Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
name its origins lie to the south of the border in the north of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Specifically, the name is thought to have derived from either the town of Hebron or Hebburn
Hebburn
Hebburn is a small town situated on the south bank of the River Tyne in North East England, sandwiched between the towns of Jarrow and Bill Quay...
, both of which are in Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
. The origins of the name are suggested to be the same as that of Hebborne from the Old English
Old English language
Old English or Anglo-Saxon is an early form of the English language that was spoken and written by the Anglo-Saxons and their descendants in parts of what are now England and southeastern Scotland between at least the mid-5th century and the mid-12th century...
words heah ("high") and byrgen ("burial mound"). Alternatively it could mean something along the lines of "high place beside the water", as the word burn is a still widely used in Northumbrian and Scots
Scots language
Scots is the Germanic language variety spoken in Lowland Scotland and parts of Ulster . It is sometimes called Lowland Scots to distinguish it from Scottish Gaelic, the Celtic language variety spoken in most of the western Highlands and in the Hebrides.Since there are no universally accepted...
for stream.
Next to Chillingham Castle
Chillingham Castle
Chillingham Castle is a medieval castle in the village of Chillingham in the northern part of Northumberland, England. It was the seat of the Grey family and their descendants the Earls of Tankerville from the 13th century until the 1980s. The Chillingham Wild Cattle, formerly associated with the...
there remains a bastle tower
Bastle house
Bastle houses are a type of construction found along the Anglo-Scottish border, in the areas formerly plagued by border Reivers. They are farmhouses, characterised by elaborate security measures against raids...
where the family originated. This was the seat of a line of the family until the eighteenth century when that branch died out, having left only a female heir. However, it is as the Earls of Bothwell
Earl of Bothwell
The title Earl of Bothwell has been created twice in the Peerage of Scotland. It was first created for Patrick Hepburn in 1488, and was forfeited in 1567. It was then created for Francis Stewart in 1587...
that the Hepburn family are perhaps best remembered. This branch of the family originated in Lothian
Lothian
Lothian forms a traditional region of Scotland, lying between the southern shore of the Firth of Forth and the Lammermuir Hills....
when a Hepburn was granted land having saved the Earl of March
Earl of March
The title The Earl of March has been created several times in the Peerage of Scotland and the Peerage of England. The title derived from the "marches" or boundaries between England and either Wales or Scotland , and was held by several great feudal families which owned lands in those border...
from a horse that had lost control. This family first became the Lords of Hailes
Hailes Castle
Hailes Castle is a mainly 14th century castle about a mile and a half south west of East Linton, East Lothian, Scotland. This castle, which has a fine riverside setting, belonged to the Hepburn family during the most important centuries of its existence....
before being granted the Earldom of Bothwell
Bothwell
Bothwell is a small town in the South Lanarkshire council area of Scotland. It lies on the north bank of the River Clyde, adjacent to Uddingston and Hamilton, nine miles east-south-east of Glasgow city centre....
.
There were also Hepburns of Waughton, thought by some to have branched off from the Hailes line, thought by others to predate it. Another line was the Hepburns of Beanston, and yet another was the Hepburns of Athelstaneford. All of these families were prominent in various ways at various junctures of Scottish history, but all were primarily located around the East Lothian
East Lothian
East Lothian is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy Area. It borders the City of Edinburgh, Scottish Borders and Midlothian. Its administrative centre is Haddington, although its largest town is Musselburgh....
area.
Scottish nobles
- Patrick Hepburn, 1st Lord of Hailes (died 1483)
- Adam Hepburn, Master of HailesAdam Hepburn, Master of HailesAdam Hepburn, Master of Hailes was Sheriff of Berwickshire in April 1467, and had a charter of confirmation of Dunsyre in the sheriffdom of Lanarkshire, dated 13 October 1475, being thereafter designated 'of Dunsyre'....
(died 1479), son of Patrick, 1st Lord of Hailes - John HepburnJohn HepburnJohn Hepburn, Prior of Saint Andrews was the son of Patrick Hepburn, 1st Lord of Hailes. He established Saint Leonards College at the University of St Andrews in 1512...
(died after 1525), son of Patrick, 1st Lord of Hailes - Patrick Hepburn, 1st Earl of BothwellPatrick Hepburn, 1st Earl of BothwellPatrick Hepburn, 1st Earl of Bothwell was Lord High Admiral of Scotland. Under his territorial designation of Sir Patrick Hepburne of Dunsyre, Knt., he was Sheriff of Berwickshire, 15 June 1480...
(died 1508), son of Adam, Master of Hailes - Adam Hepburn of CraggisAdam Hepburn of CraggisAdam Hepburn was the son of Adam Hepburn, Master of Hailes and brother of Patrick, the first Earl of Bothwell.Attached to the royal household of James IV, he became Master of the Royal Stables on 30 March 1497. He was killed at the Battle of Flodden in 1513, as were his brother George and nephew...
(died 1513), son of Adam, Master of Hailes - George HepburnGeorge HepburnGeorge Hepburn was the son of Adam Hepburn and brother to Patrick Hepburn, the first Earl of Bothwell.He was a churchman, and served firstly as postulate Abbot of Arbroath, before becoming Lord High Treasurer of Scotland for a brief spell in 1509...
(died 1513), son of Adam, Master of Hailes - Adam Hepburn, 2nd Earl of BothwellAdam Hepburn, 2nd Earl of BothwellAdam Hepburn, 2nd Earl of Bothwell was a Scottish nobleman, who succeeded his father Patrick Hepburn, 1st Earl of Bothwell in 1508...
(died 1513), son of Patrick, 1st Earl of Bothwell - Patrick Hepburn, 3rd Earl of BothwellPatrick Hepburn, 3rd Earl of BothwellPatrick Hepburn, 3rd Earl of Bothwell , was the son of Adam Hepburn, Lord Hailes, who died at the Battle of Flodden the year after Patrick's birth.Hepburn was known as the Fair Earl...
(1512–1556), son of Adam, 2nd Earl of Bothwell - James Hepburn, 4th Earl of BothwellJames Hepburn, 4th Earl of BothwellJames Hepburn, 1st Duke of Orkney , better known by his inherited title as 4th Earl of Bothwell, was hereditary Lord High Admiral of Scotland. He is best known for his association with and subsequent marriage to Mary, Queen of Scots, as her third husband...
(c. 1534–1578), son of Patrick, 3rd Earl of Bothwell, and husband of Mary, Queen of Scots - Francis Stewart Hepburn, 1st Earl of Bothwell (before 1563–1612), nephew of James, 4th Earl of Bothwell
Politics
- A. Barton HepburnA. Barton HepburnAlonzo Barton Hepburn was a United States Comptroller of the Currency from 1892 to 1893....
(1846–1922), American banker and politician - Bernard Rickart HepburnBernard Rickart HepburnBernard Rickart Hepburn was born in Picton, Ontario.The son of A.W. Hepburn and the former Miss McCuaig, he was educated in Picton and Port Hope. In 1901, he married Bertha E. Wright....
(1876–1939), member of the Canadian House of Commons - James de Congalton HepburnJames de Congalton HepburnJames Hepburn was speaker of the Legislature of Ontario in 1947-1948 and served as Progressive Conservative MLA for Prince Edward-Lennox....
(fl.FloruitFloruit , abbreviated fl. , is a Latin verb meaning "flourished", denoting the period of time during which something was active...
1940s), Speaker of the Ontario (Canada) Legislature - Jamie HepburnJamie HepburnJamie Hepburn is a Scottish politician. He is a Scottish National Party Member of the Scottish Parliament for Cumbernauld and Kilsyth...
(born 1979), member of the Scottish Parliament - Mitchell HepburnMitchell HepburnMitchell Frederick Hepburn was the 11th Premier of Ontario, Canada, from 1934 to 1942. He was the youngest Premier in Ontario history, appointed at age 37....
(1896–1953), Premier of Ontario, Canada - Patrick Buchan-Hepburn (1901–1974), Scottish politician
- Robert Rickart Hepburn Member of Parliament for Kincardineshire 1768–1774
- Stephen HepburnStephen HepburnStephen Hepburn is a British Labour politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Jarrow since 1997.-Early life and family:...
(born 1959), English Member of Parliament - William Peters HepburnWilliam Peters HepburnWilliam Peters Hepburn was an American Civil War officer and an eleven-term Republican congressman from Iowa's now-obsolete 8th congressional district, serving from 1881 to 1887, and from 1893 to 1909...
(1833–1916), American congressman for Iowa, author of the Hepburn ActHepburn ActThe Hepburn Act is a 1906 United States federal law that gave the Interstate Commerce Commission the power to set maximum railroad rates. This led to the discontinuation of free passes to loyal shippers. In addition, the ICC could view the railroads' financial records, a task simplified by...
of 1906
Academia
- Alexa HepburnAlexa HepburnAlexa Hepburn is Reader in Conversation Analysis in the Social Sciences Department at Loughborough University.-Life:She was born in Leicester. Because her father was a telecoms engineer involved in modernising exchanges she moved between 12 different schools in the North of England and Scotland. ...
, English social psychologist - Andrew Dousa HepburnAndrew Dousa HepburnAndrew Dousa Hepburn was a Presbyterian pastor, professor and President of Miami University and Davidson College.Hepburn was born in Williamsport, Pennsylvania to Samuel Hepburn, a lawyer and judge and Rebecca Williamson...
(1830–1921), president of Miami University and Davidson College - Charles A. Hepburn (born 1891–1971), Scottish businessman and philanthropist
- James Bonaventure HepburnJames Bonaventure HepburnJames Hepburn , nicknamed "Bonaventura" or "Bonaventure Hepburn", was a Scottish Roman Catholic linguist, lexicographer, grammarian and biblical commentator...
(1573–1620), Scottish Catholic scholar - James Curtis HepburnJames Curtis HepburnJames Curtis Hepburn, M.D., LL.D. was a physician who became a Christian missionary. He is known for the Hepburn romanization system for transliteration of the Japanese language into the Latin alphabet, which he popularized in his Japanese–English dictionary.- Biography :Hepburn was born in...
(1815–1911), American linguist, devised a romanization system for Japanese - John William Hepburn, Vice-President Research, University of British Columbia (Chemist)
Arts and entertainment
- Katharine HepburnKatharine HepburnKatharine Houghton Hepburn was an American actress of film, stage, and television. In a career that spanned 62 years as a leading lady, she was best known for playing strong-willed, sophisticated women in both dramas and comedies...
(1907–2003), American actress - Audrey HepburnAudrey HepburnAudrey Hepburn was a British actress and humanitarian. Although modest about her acting ability, Hepburn remains one of the world's most famous actresses of all time, remembered as a film and fashion icon of the twentieth century...
(1929–1993), British actress - Barton HepburnBarton HepburnBarton Hepburn was an American actor who specialized in drama and comedy,Hepburn was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was spotted as a stage actor in Los Angeles by the screen director Cecil B. DeMille. He starred in a 1929 production, Painted Faces, an early film with sound...
(1906–1955), American actor - Cassandra Hepburn (born 1977), American actress
- Dee HepburnDee HepburnDee Hepburn is a former actor.She trained in acting, and took a part as a school girl in the BBC's production of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. She starred in Bill Forsyth's 1981 film Gregory's Girl, playing John Gordon Sinclair's love interest Dorothy...
(born 1961), Scottish actress
Sports
- Craig HepburnCraig HepburnCraig Daniel Hepburn is a retired male long jumper from the Bahamas, best known for finishing 13th at the 1992 Olympic Games. His personal best is 8.41 metres, achieved in June 1993 in Nassau. This is the national record. -Achievements:...
(born 1969), Bahamian long-jumper - Doug HepburnDoug HepburnDoug Ivan Hepburn was a Canadian world-champion weightlifter.Born in Vancouver with a club foot and cross-eyed, Hepburn overcame these handicaps, setting a Canadian record for weightlifting in 1950 and winning gold medals at the 1953 world championships in Stockholm and the 1954 British Empire and...
(1926–2000), Canadian weightlifter - Ralph HepburnRalph HepburnRalph Hepburn was a pioneer of American motorcycle racing champion and an Indianapolis 500 racing driver.Born in Somerville, Massachusetts, Hepburn's family moved to Los Angeles, California when he was ten years old...
(1896–1948), American motorcycle and racecar driver
Literature
- Robert Hepburn (writer), writer of the Edinburgh Tatler and a member of the Faculty of AdvocatesFaculty of AdvocatesThe Faculty of Advocates is an independent body of lawyers who have been admitted to practise as advocates before the courts of Scotland, especially the Court of Session and the High Court of Justiciary...
- Mary Hepburn, a character of Kurt VonnegutKurt VonnegutKurt Vonnegut, Jr. was a 20th century American writer. His works such as Cat's Cradle , Slaughterhouse-Five and Breakfast of Champions blend satire, gallows humor and science fiction. He was known for his humanist beliefs and was honorary president of the American Humanist Association.-Early...
's novel Galápagos
Military
- Allan HepburnAllan HepburnWing Commander Allan Hepburn, DFC, was an Australian World War I flying ace, who was born in Melbourne, Victoria. He scored 16 victories during his flying career....
(1896–1975), Australian World War I flying ace - Arthur Japy HepburnArthur Japy HepburnArthur Japy Hepburn was an admiral in the United States Navy, whose active-duty career included service in the Spanish–American War, World War I, and World War II. He held a number of high posts in the years between the World Wars, including Director of Naval Intelligence , a U.S...
(1877–1964), US navy admiral - Sir John HepburnSir John HepburnSir John Hepburn was a Scottish soldier who fought in wars in continental Europe.He was a son of George Hepburn of Athelstaneford, near the town of Haddington. He served in the Thirty Year's War, entering into the service of Gustavus Adolphus in 1623 and in 1625 was appointed colonel of the...
(c. 1598–1636), Scottish soldier, fought for Sweden and France