My Family Tree is Full of Nuts

Origin of the Name Epps

     John Frederick Dorman a certified genealogist indicated in “Ancestors and Descendants of Francis Epes of Virginia Vol. I,” that the American Epps ancestors lived for centuries in the area around Ashford, Kent County, England. They came to the Virginia colony shortly after the Virginia Company of London established Jamestown.

    According to Dorman Roger Eppe whose name appears on the Hundred Role of Fourhowe, Norfolk in 1273 is the oldest known reference he found in England’s documents. In 1409 a John Eps and Stephen Eps appear as witnesses on a deed in Kent County. In 1459 William Aps alias Eps of Lamberdherst, Kent County alias Sussex County, was summoned concerning a debt he owed to a fishmonger of London.  Stephen Aps of Sussex County in 1463 was also involved in a court action concerning a dept. There is a Robert Epse who is deputy in the town of Rye, Kent County in 1433 and 1435 and later mayor of Yarmouth in 1436.

        It can be seen these early English sources spelled the name in various ways: Eppe, Eps, Aps, and Epse. These variations come from medieval scribes who worked without any spelling rules. The etymology of the Epps name taken from various internet sources says it is an English variant of the names Ebbs of north Germany or Apps which is a Dutch.

    Ebbs is the short form of Ebbert in north Germany. In medieval time many different cultural groups lived in the German states. This caused regional variations of German surnames. Some spoke Low German that is the dialect of those living in the northern low lying lands of Germany that is similar to Dutch.

    Apps is a Dutch variant of Epps. The Old English, which is of Germanic tribal origin, had a variant of Apps spelled Apse. The root meaning of both of these variants refers to someone who lived near an aspen tree. Both the Dutch “van” and German “von” which mean from or of are used as a prefix to some of the various forms of the Epps name as in van Epps or von Epps.

     Some of the numerous spellings of Epps are: Epple, Epp, Eppe, Eps, Ebs, Ebbs, Epps, Epes, Eppes, Eppling, Eppel, etc. Epp and Eppe is a Dutch pet form of the Germanic personal name Eberhardt.  Some of the individual names that appear in ancient German chronicles of various towns are Eberhart and Friedericus von Ebs in 1190, Albertus Dictum Eppelin in 1283, Rudel Eppfeler in 1367, and Nicolaus Eppler in 1390.  Compare these variations with the previous early English forms Roger Eppe 1273, John Eps 1409, William Aps 1463, and Robert Epse 1433.

     Clearly the Epps name has its roots among the Germanic tribes living in the European low lands. A review of Kent’s history follows which will document that people whose name would become the English Epes were in Kent at least by the sixth century. This review will also point to a Germanic tribe called Jutes as those who brought the name that became Epes in Kent.

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                                          Larry Epps Deceased –Account of Sale

                                         A List of Sale October 17th & 18th 1861
      Name                                               Articles                              Amount
James N. Epps                      Colter? Plow & axe & c                   2.20
Larra Epps                             Plow & Sundries                                  .10
W M Epps J C Epps             Sythe & c                                              1.15
H Gowen J C Epps               Crop cut sow & c                                 .30
James N. Epps                     Cutting Knife & c                                  .20
Hugh M. Epps                      2 Plows & Hames                                  .10
H M Epps                               Round Chain                                          .10
James N Epps                      Lot of Sundries                                     .65
James N Epps                      Bryan Sythe                                           .25
H M Epps                               Wheat Fan                                              .10
Mrs Cummings                    Weeding hoe                                         .05
H Gowen J C Epps              Cubbard & Table                               4.15
Mrs E T Thomas                  Sifter                                                        .20
Mrs Cummings                    Bead Quilt                                              .15
Mrs Cummings                    Bead Quilt                                              .15
Mrs Cummings                    Bead Quilt                                              .15
H M Epps                               Oven & Lead                                         .50
H M Epps                               fire Shovel                                             .10
H M Epps                               Skillet & Lea                                          .50
H M Epps                               Oven                                                        .35
Larra Epps                            Gallon pot & c                                      .65
H M Epps                               Clock & Bible                                        .10
H M Epps                               Ladies Saddle                                    5.00
Mrs Cummings                    Bucket                                                     .10
Mrs Cummings                    Coffee Mill                                             .10
Mrs Cummings                    Coffee Mill                                             .05
Mrs Cummings                    Chairs                                                     .10
Mrs Cummings                    Looking Glass                                      .25
Mrs Cummings                    Kittle & Pots                                         .25
Larra Epps                            Old Saddle                                             .35
Mrs Cummings                    Water Bucket                                       .05
H M Epps                               Sow & 5 Piggs                                  17.25
Mrs Cummings                    Cow                                                     16.00
H M Epps J C Epps             Sythe & Cradle                                  2.00
H M Epps J C Epps             3 Hogs                                                38.80
W Cummings                        2 Shotes                                               7.50
The above is a true and perfect act of sale of all the personal property of Larry Epps decd. That was sold by me on the on the 17th day of October 1861. Sold on twelve months credit notes with good security taken for the sum.
Sworn today in submission before me Jan. 24th 1867                            James C. Epps
J T Grossman Clerk Clerk                    fee 50 ct paid J. T. G.                              Admin
Approved R. Farqu__?___

The most important event in James Craton Jrs. life was his imprisonment in Nashville for the charge of helping kill some government police when they tried to shut down a whiskey still in Lincoln Co. near a place called the Patrick community. The trial was reported in great detail in the Nashville Banner News Paper. The following is not the entire article but only trial excerpts involving James C. Epps. He is the son of James C Epps Sr whose father was Lawrence. It will read discontinuously in some places since large parts have been skipped.

NASHVILLE BANNER Tuesday Evening, May 23, 1893
The United States Circuit, Court-room was crowded yesterday afternoon at 2 o’clock when Marshal Harrison convened (sic) the court. Judge Taft presided. (William Howard Taft served as federal circuit judge of the Sixth Circuit Court from 1892 to 1900. He was civil governor of the Philippines from 1901 to 1904. He was elected 27th President of the United States in 1908. In 1921, he was appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.)
Prosecutor testimony regarding the Lincoln County killings:
For six months they have languished in the Davidson County jail and the confinement has told on their faces. Patrick’s face still retains a flush, which is rather hectic, however, but Petty’s skin is chalky-white and in marked contrast to his coal-black hair and moustache(sic). Epps’ eyes look sunken and his skin clammy. The contrast between the appearance of the men is something remarkable. Patrick is between 30 and 35 years old, and has a handsome, intelligent face. He is a large land owner and his alleged accomplices were hands employed on his farm. Petty looks to be near Patrick’s age, but his forehead is low, his eyes are close together, and his countenance lacks the light of intelligence. Epps is past the prime of life by a decade, as is evidenced by his bald head, gray hair and moustache. He has a thoroughly responsible look. As to the outcome of the case Patrick displays the greatest concern, because, perhaps, his superior intelligence tells him more clearly the enormity of the crime with which he stands charged. Judge Taft then put the question to each defendant separately and each responded in full clear voice, ‘Not Guilty.’ Epps’ reply was in a cracked voice, though evidently from age and not fear or excitement. Read the rest of this entry »

Here is a comment Buck wrote.. Since a lot of people do not read the comments I thought it would be a good idea to post it.

J D Epps husband of Lois Kent is Joseph Daniel Epps son of James Craton Epps Jr. He was born 30 Nov. 1891. His mother was Adlade Fox Epps also called Addie. She was the second wife of James Craton Epps Jr.   Dovie is Hepsey Jane Epps daughter of James Craton Epps Jr. and Hepsey Prosser.  Bettie is Elizabeth Epps another daughter of James Craton Epps Jr. and his first wife Hepsey Prosser. 
The W. C. Epps is a son of Hugh M Epps named William C Epps. The C probably is either Cole his mothers maiden name or Craton his grandmothers maiden name.  Mary J Epps in the Simms – Land Cemetery above is the first wife of Lawrence Franklin Epps who is the son of Hugh M Epps. Mary Jane’s maiden name was Mason. She died before before Dec 1876 and is the daughter of Solomon Mason. Lawrence F Epps later married Luticia Francis Cotner.

James Craton Epps the first son of Lawrence and Elizabeth is probably named for his mothers brother James Craton. The name James Craton has come down through many generations but with the spelling Creighton instead of Craton.

The above information submitted by Lawrence Epps, here known as Buck!