Of territorial origin from Hebburn in the parish of Chillingham, Northumberland, where a family of the name flourished from 1271 (their earliest appearance in record) till late in the eighteenth century, when it ended, like so many other old families, in an heiress (Archaeologia Aeliana, XIV, p. 302). The Scottish Hepburns have been described as 'an old and powerful race but of uncertain origin and of evil destiny.' The founder of the family was Adam de Hepburne or de Hylburne, said to have been taken prisoner by the earl of March, who afterwards gave him lands in East Lothian, for saving the earl's life from a savage horse. As Adam de Hylburne, he and his spouse Mariote Fourbuire had a charter of Trepprane (now Traprain) and Dumpeldar in the reign of David II, from the earl of March (RMS., I, App. I, 117). He also had other charters of Southalls and Northalls (i.e. South Hales and North Hales) which had been forfeited by Hew Gourlay of Beinstoun (ibid., App. II, 853—855). At one time the Hepburns held great sway in East Lothian, and in the sixteenth century there were Hepburns of Hailes, Waughton, Smeaton, Bolton, Aldeiston, Bearford, Beanston, Humbie, Keith, Nunraw, and Monkrigg. Samuel Khebron who commanded a regiment of Scots in Sweden, 1612, was probably a Hepburn. Hopburn 1589.

From the lands of Hebburne, Hayborne, or Hepburne, co. Durham, near the mouth of the Tyne. Tradition derives the noble family seated in E. Lothian, from the XIV. cent., from an English gentleman taken prisoner by the Earl of March, who generously gave him lands, upon which he settled. From him descended the Earls of Bothwell, whose line ended with the notorious James H., Earl of Bothwell, Marquis of Fife, and Duke of Orkney, the husband of Mary, Queen of Scots, 1567. The battle-cry of this warlike race was-"A HEPBURN; BIDE ME FAIR !"-(i.e., Meet my onset fairly.)

The sweet briar by the brook-hiope, a sweet briar, and bourne, a brook. Sir Patrick Hepburn of Hales, eldest son of Sir Adam Hepburn of Hales, was created Lord Hales in 1467; his grandson Patrick Lord Hales, was created Earl of Bothwell in 1488, the great grandson of the latter, James, fourth Earl of Bothwell, was created Marquis of Fife, and Duke of Orkney, and married Mary, Queen of Scots, in 1567, but was attainted and banished the same year, and died in the Castle of Malmoe in Norway, in 1577. The family bear a rose in their arms-motto: "Keep Tryst."