Jepson is an English surname that has also seen occasional use as a given name, typically in honor of a family name. It originated as a patronymic meaning "son of Jep", where Jep itself is a medieval diminutive of Geoffrey. This formation places Jepson within a common pattern of English surnames derived from a father's first name by adding the suffix -son, akin to names like Jackson or Johnson. Etymology The surname Jepson emerged from the medieval given name Jep, a short form of Geoffrey. The root name Geoffrey traces back to the Norman French adaptation of a Frankish name, likely composed of elements such as gautaz (meaning 'Geat', referring to a North Germanic tribe) or gawi ('territory'), combined with fridu ('peace'). Over centuries, Geoffrey was often confused with the similar name Godfrey, and by the end of the Middle Ages it had become uncommon in Britain, only to be revived in the 20th century popularized as Jeffery. Distribution and Bearers Historically, the Jepson surname is concentrated in the northern counties of England, especially Yorkshire and Lancashire. Immigration brought Jepsons to other English-speaking nations such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. According to the 2010 United States Census, Jepson ranks as the 10,204th most common surname in the country, with 3,157 bearers primarily identifying as White (95.31%).1 Notable individuals with the surname include: Tim Jepson (c. 1760–1835), a British naval officer who served as master of the HMS Bounty under Captain William Bligh. He played a role in the Bounty mutiny but remained loyal to Bligh, eventually helping to navigate the ship after the mutineers seized it.2 Robert Jepson (born 1958), an English actor best known for portraying Patrick Harper in the TV series Sharpe. Cultural Significance As a first name, Jepson is strictly uncommon, but it occasionally appears in families where the surname tradition continues, similar to other patronymic first names like Jackson or Maddox. The surname itself evokes the enduring popularity of Geoffrey and its many variants across the English-speaking world. Meaning: Son of Jep (diminutive of Geoffrey) Origin: English Type: Surname / Given name Usage Regions: English-speaking countries (United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand) [1]  United States Census Bureau (2010), given in Wiktionary. [2]  Details on Tim Jepson from biographical sources.