Explore the Family Name Epps
The meaning of Epps
1. English: from Middle English (h)apse, (h)aspe ‘aspen tree, white poplar’ (Old English æpse, æspe). Generally, this was a topographic name for someone who lived by an aspen tree or a habitational name from a place called with this word, for example Apps in Surrey, Apse Manor on the Isle of Wight, or The Asps in Warwickshire. 2. English: perhaps from the Middle English personal name Eppe, a possible survival of Old English Eoppa, or its female counterpart Eoppe (Latinized in post-Conquest records as Eppa), probably from a stem eorp- ‘red’. Alternatively, Eppe may derive from Old Norse Øpi, perhaps from the stem øp- found in the verb øpa ‘to cry out, shriek’. 3. American shortened form of Van Epps, a surname of Dutch origin.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Epps in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Epps showed a slight fluctuation in popularity between 2000 and 2010. The rank of the surname slipped from 1747 to 1784, marking a decrease of 2.12%. However, the count of individuals with this surname saw an increase of 7.09%, rising from 18,780 in 2000 to 20,112 in 2010. This indicates that although the popularity rank decreased slightly, the overall number of people with the surname Epps increased during this decade. The proportion per 100k also showed a small decrease, falling from 6.96 to 6.82 (-2.01%).
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,747 | #1,784 | -2.12% |
| Count | 18,780 | 20,112 | 7.09% |
| Proportion per 100k | 6.96 | 6.82 | -2.01% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Epps
In terms of ethnic identity, the Decennial U.S. Census data shows some notable shifts for those bearing the surname Epps from 2000 to 2010. While the percentage identifying as Black stayed relatively stable, at 61.54% in 2000 and a slight increase to 61.87% in 2010, other ethnic identities saw more significant changes. The percentage identifying as White decreased by 6.97%, dropping from 33.30% to 30.98%. Meanwhile, there was a marked increase in individuals identifying as Hispanic — a rise of 77.46% brought the percentage from 1.42% to 2.52%. There were also minor increases in the identification as 'American Indian and Alaskan Native' (from 1.14% to 1.25%) and 'Two or more races' (from 2.31% to 3.12%). In contrast, the percentage identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander dropped slightly, from 0.28% to 0.25%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 61.54% | 61.87% | 0.54% |
| White | 33.3% | 30.98% | -6.97% |
| Two or More Races | 2.31% | 3.12% | 35.06% |
| Hispanic | 1.42% | 2.52% | 77.46% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 1.14% | 1.25% | 9.65% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.28% | 0.25% | -10.71% |
Epps ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Epps is British & Irish, which comprises 43.2% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (15.1%) and Nigerian (12.5%). Additional ancestries include Ghanaian, Liberian & Sierra Leonean, Angolan & Congolese, Spanish & Portuguese, Eastern European, and Scandinavian.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 43.2% |
| French & German | 15.1% |
| Nigerian | 12.5% |
| Other | 29.2% |
Possible origins of the surname Epps
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Epps have recent ancestry locations all within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 65.30% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 65.30% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 64.90% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 64.60% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 63.80% |
What Epps haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Epps is R-L664, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-L664 is descended from haplogroup R-M420. Other common haplogroups include E-P252 and R-CTS241, which are predominantly found among people with Sub-Saharan African and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Drake, Hand, Tucker, Willard, Dent, Swain, Fenn, Goldsmith, Luther, Couch.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Epps surname are: H1, T2b, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M420Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Epps have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Epps" Surname 31.0%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Epps" Surname 27.4%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Epps" Surname 25.7%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Epps" Surname 18.5%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Epps?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Epps are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition