Surname Headen - Meaning and Origin

Headen: What does the surname Headen mean?

The last name Headen is of English origin and has many possible meanings. It is sometimes thought to originate from a location name, referring to someone from 'the high valley', derived from the Middle English word 'head', meaning high, and 'denu', meaning valley. Alternatively, it could refer to someone who lived in a valley near a high hill.

Headen could also be a habitational name, referring to those with family origins in a place called Haden, located in Staffordshire, England. It is thought to be derived from the Welsh personal name 'Hydd', which means 'bold'.

The name Headen can also be topographic, indicating someone who lived in a high valley or highland meadow, or sometimes referred to someone living near an area with tall grasses or moorland.

Headen could also come from the Old French word "headine", meaning a head-ornament. This would have been given to someone living in the upper echelons of society.

No matter the origin of the name Headen, it definitely has its roots in the English language and has been used as a surname for many generations.

Headen: Where does the name Headen come from?

The last name Headen is a surname of British origin. It is most commonly found in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. In the United States, it is mainly found in the Midwestern and Southern states, as well as in California and New York.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Headen is from 1679, when the name appeared on a tax list in the Isle of Man, in the Irish Sea. Since then, the name has continued to grow in popularity, with several people having the Headen surname in the 18th and 19th centuries.

In the UK, Headen is most frequently found in the East Midlands, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. It’s also been reported to be fairly common in Gloucestershire and occasionally in Somerset. In Ireland, the name is largely concentrated in counties Antrim, Dublin, and Galway.

Although its exact origins are unconfirmed, Headen is considered to be a variant of the Old English ‘headen’, meaning ‘of the head’. As this suggests, the Headen surname may be a sign of descent from the head of a clan or family.

Today, the Headen surname is still relatively common in the countries where it first gained popularity, although it’s become much more widespread around the world. This is likely due to its origins in the British Isles, which has led to the name being taken abroad with travelers and emigrants.

Variations of the surname Headen

Headen is a surname with a range of variants, spellings, and alternate surnames. Some common variants of the name include Headon, Heden, Headan, Headin, Hedden, Heydon, Hadden, and Heydon. Occasionally, Headen is also spelled as Headonn, Headdan, and Haddan.

Another variant of the Headen name is Heddon, which is derived from an Old English place name. The Heddon variation is mostly found throughout counties in England where the Headen surname originated, such as Bedfordshire, Lincolnshire, and Essex.

Some spellings of the Headen name developed centuries ago and remain in circulation today. Other spellings are considered mispellings or phonetic closer spellings of the original Headen name. Common mispellings include Hedon, Hedbane, Hebdon, Heathdon, Heäden, Heiden, Heydin, and Heyden.

Alternate surnames related to the Headen surname include Heading, Headley, Heding, Hedinger, Headlam, Hedeman, Headington, Hedin, Heiden, and Heidman. These surnames are derived from other English place names and are often used in place of the traditional Headen spelling.

Finally, some variants of the Headen surname originating in Ireland are O'Headon, O'Headhan, O'Heddon, and Headin. Headin is the Irish version of the original Headen name, which was changed by immigrants to differentiate it from the many other English and Irish variations.

Overall, the Headen surname has a plethora of variants, spellings, and alternate surnames related to where it originates, allowing for many different spellings and accounts of the surname today.

Famous people with the name Headen

• Jason Headen: Jason is an Australian actor who has starred in television and feature films, including Mad Max, Police Rescue, All Saints, Home and Away, and The Water Diviner.
• Corinne Headen: Corinne is an American Broadway performer, best known for originating the role of Lucille in Wild Party and appearing in the Broadway revival of Noises Off.
• Bill Headen: Bill is an American football player who played professional football in the National Football League (NFL) for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1964 to 1967 and the Minnesota Vikings from 1969 to 1970.
• Chris Headen: Chris is a musician and songwriter, primarily known for his work as the bassist and vocalist for the band NOFX, a punk rock group established in Los Angeles.
• Gene Headen: Gene was an American professional football player who played in the American Football League for the Buffalo Bills from 1960 to 1965.
• Dave Headen: Dave is an English former professional footballer who played as a defender from 1960 to 1977 for various clubs, including Reading, Manchester United, and Bournemouth.
• Rob Headen: Rob is an American college basketball coach who is currently the head coach of the women’s program at Purdue University.
• Earl Headen: Earl is an American singer-songwriter and record producer, best known for his work with Luther Vandross, Rod Wave, and Kanye West.
• Leslie Headen: Leslie is an American economist and the founding director of the National Center for Responsible Banking, established in 2009.
• Stephanie Headen: Stephanie is an American singer, songwriter, and actress, best known for her roles on the television series Gossip Girl and 90210.

Other surnames

Heade