Surname Hepner - Meaning and Origin
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Hepner: What does the surname Hepner mean?
The surname Hepner is of German and Jewish origin, most likely of Ashkenazi descent. It is thought to be derived from the Hebrew name Heptner, meaning ‘keeper of horses’. It is likely that the original Hepners were of the equestrian class, making their living by training, breeding, and caring for horses.
In Europe, the surname Hepner was most popular in Germany, with the name appearing frequently in records from the fifteenth to seventeenth centuries. During this time, the name spread to other parts of Europe, including Poland, Romania, and Hungary. Later, during the nineteenth century, the Hepners emigrated to the United States, most notably to New York and Pennsylvania.
Today, some Hepners still work in the field of equestrianism, though most individuals with the name have moved away from their former profession. In addition to the horse keeping business, Hepners can now be found pursuing a variety of career paths. As is common for many Jewish surnames, it is still possible to connect with other members of the Hepner family through genealogical research.
Order DNA origin analysisHepner: Where does the name Hepner come from?
The last name Hepner is an uncommon name in modern day. It is most commonly found in the United States, where it is most likely of Germanic origin. Specifically, the name can be found in the states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Jersey, and Florida. It is also found in Germany, where it could have originated, and also in the United Kingdom, Canada, and some other parts of Europe.
The number of people with the Hepner surname is decreasing in the U.S. While in 1990 there were an estimated 586 people with the name in the U.S., by 2000 there were only about 393 individuals with the name Hepner. This could be due to the gradual decline of surnames imported from Europe over time as people adopted more American-sounding names.
In Germany, the most common use of the Hepner surname is in the former East Germany. This area was once part of the Kingdom of Prussia and it is likely that the surname made its way to the U.S. by German immigrants during this period.
Given the small size of the population with the Hepner surname, it is likely that many of its members are not closely related. Along with the majority of people with the surname in the U.S., the Hepners are likely to be of a variety of ethnic backgrounds.
Although name is somewhat uncommon, the Hepner name can still be found in Germany, the U.S., and a few other countries. Over time, the name may continue to dwindle and become more rare, as is the case with so many European surnames.
Variations of the surname Hepner
Hepner is a surname of German origin that originated as a variation of Heppener. There can be many different variants, spelling and surnames of the same origin for Hepner, such as Heppner, Hepper, Hepnar, Hebbner, Hebner, Heffner, Heftner, Helper, Hebaner, Heppenheimer, Heppenreit, Heppensmueller, Heppensteiner, and Hebbener.
Heppener and its variations come from the Middle High German word "heffen," which means to rise or lift up. This word is related to Old High German "heffan," which has the same meaning, as well as Old English "hebban," which translates as to lift or raise. The surname was originally used to refer to someone who had risen in importance or status, and could be added as a suffix to someone's first name to denote this.
Heppener eventually evolved into Hepner in various parts of Germany, but the primary spelling variations of the name can also be found in Austria, Switzerland, and other German-speaking countries. In the United States, Heppner and Hepner are both found, as well as Hebbner, Hebaner, and the other variations.
Other spellings of the surname can also be found, such as Hefiner, Hebener, Heberer, Heefner, Heetoner, Hepnar, Heptner, Hepppo, Helppner, Haspenauer, and Hephnar, although the origins of these spellings are likely derived from countries other than Germany.
Famous people with the name Hepner
- Marju Hepner: Estonian politician
- David Hepner: American painter
- Michaela Hepner: Austrian politician
- David Hepner Brown: American actor
- Arthur Hepner: American actor
- Hermann Hepner: German chemist
- Elspeth Hepner: American chef
- Gail Hepner: American activist
- Joe Hepner: American politician
- Johnny Hepner: American journalist
- Paul Hepner: American actor
- Thomas Hepner: German professor
- Rachel Hepner: English horticulturalist
- Billie Hepner: American athlete
- Edwina Hepner: English curator
- Christian Hepner: German writer
- Sean Hepner: Australian actor
- Tanya Hepner: American artist
- Heidi Hepner: Canadian artificial intelligence researcher
- Richard Hepner: American writer