This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'of Vipont.' Lower says: 'v. pont, v. pon, latinized "de Veteri Ponte," of the Old Bridge. There are several places in Normandy called Vieupont, and the great Anglo-Norman family so designated (i.e. Vipont) came from Vipont, near Lisieux'; v. Sussex Arch. Coll.

Robert de Veteri Ponte, Oxfordshire. 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Richard de Veteri Ponte, Devon, Henry III-Edward I: Testa de Nevill, sive Liber Feodorum, temp. Henry III-Edward I.

John de Veteri Ponte, Nottinghamshire and Derby, ibid.

Ivo de Veteri Ponte, Yorkshire, 20 Edward I: Placita de Quo Warranto, temp. Edward I-III.

1662. Baptised — Catherine, d. Thomas and Rosamond Vipin: St. James, Clerkenwell.

1761. Married — Thomas Lasey and Mary Vipoint: St. George, Hanover Square.

1772. — Thomas Vipond and Mary Eagle: ibid.

There are several places in Normandy called Vieupont or Vieuxpont, and the great Anglo-Norman family so designated came from Vipont near Lisieux (Sussex Archaeological Collections, II, p. 77). The name is Latinized de Veteri Ponte = "of the old bridge." The Scottish Viponts are descended from William de Ueupunt or Veteri Ponte who gave the church of Horueresdene to the Abbey of Kelso, c. 1165 (Kelso, p. 321), and also witnessed a charter by William the Lion, c. 1165-77 (RMP., p. 76). About 1160 as William de Vyerpunt he granted the "eschalingas in Lambremore" to the church of S. Marie of Kelso, a gift witnessed by Fulcone de Vyerput (Kelso, p. 257). The Veteri Pontes also held the lands of Carriden for some generations, and about the year 1200 W. de Veteri Ponte, first born of the three sons of W. de Veteri Ponte and Emma de Sancto Hylario, as he describes himself in the charter, granted to the Abbey of Holyrood a tithe of his coal of Kareddin (Carriden) and a tithe of the profits of all ships and boats loading or unloading in his land of Blackenis (Blackness) (LSC., p. 33). Ivo de Veteri Ponte, probably one of the sons mentioned above, gifted the church of S. Foylan "de majore Sowrby" (Sorbie in Wigtownshire) to the Abbey of Dryburgh, c. 1200 (Dryburgh, 56). Between 1238 and 1270 Nicholas de Veteri Ponte and his spouse Anabella made a gift of Swaynyston (Swanston) to the Hospital of Soltre which was witnessed by William de Veteri Ponte, dominus de Boulton (Soltre, p. 27-28). Dominus Henricus de Veteri Ponte witnessed a charter by Malcolm, 4th earl of Levenax, c. 1285 (Levenax, p. 87), and in 1292 Robert de Veteri Ponte renounced the homage which he had done to Alexander m for the lands of Aldeneston (APS., I, p. 116). Nicol de Veupount of Tyndale (Tyndayȝ), Aline de Veepount and Robert de Weepunt, both of Edinburghshire, rendered homage in 1296 (Bain, II, 816, and p. 201,203, 213). Peronel de Veupont of Berwickshire also rendered homage. His seal bears two lozenges in pale, S' Petronille de Veteriponte (ibid., II, p. 208,554). William de Veteri-ponte witnessed grant of the office of sheriff of Clackmannan to Malcolm, earl of Levenax, in 1309 (Levenax, p. 2) Barbour describes Sir William de Vepont, the sixth baron, as one of the "two worthy knights" slain on the Scottish side at Bannockburn. On his death the estates passed into the family of Cockburn by the marriage of his only child Mariota to Sir Alexander de Cokburn (Cock-bum, p. 34). Willelmus Wypponde was bailie in Buchan, c. 1364 (REA., I, p. 107). The Viponts were among the earliest known landowners in Fife. The refrain of an old song sung by fishermen there runs:

"The leal guidman of Aberdour Sits in Sir Alan Vipont's chair."

The surname is now almost extinct in Scotland, but it is interesting to note that so late as 1904 the Rev. David Avenel Vipont was selected as successor to Rev. Jacob Primmer in Townhill Established Church, Dunfermline. Vypunt 1296, Wypownt and Wippunde (in Wyntoun). Alan de Vypont held the castle of Lochleven in 1333 (Hailes, II, p. 206,217).Stolen from Fore-bears

For Vipont, q.v.

(Latinized 'De Veteri Ponte,'-of the Old Bridge.) There are several places in Normandy called Vieupont; and the great Anglo-Norman family so designated came from Vipont, near Lisieux. Sussex Arch. Coll. ii. 77.

The family are of Norman origin, the Scottish branch being descended from William de Veteri Ponte, 1165. The name has been corrupted to Wepont.

De Veteri Ponte, from the old bridge.