Great name

[Winterbloom21]

Today I came across a wonderful change from all the Janes and Elizabeths.     It was transcribed at first as 'Gephgelish'.    What kind of a name is THAT, I thought.   On looking at the original image, turns out that it quite clearly reads 'Hephziliah'.            I've Googled it, and it exists, but can't find any background to it.   Sounds Biblical.   Has anyone else come across it?

[JenB]

It's not that uncommon - try searching it on freeBMD - you'll get quite a lot of hits!

It's a Hebrew name, she was the wife of Hezekiah and mother of king Manasseh.

http://bible-library.com/Hephzibah

[RedMystic]

Hi Winterbloom.

Just curious: when was your Hephziliah named? Yikes, I wouldn't want to be harnessed with that one. 

BTW, is it Hephziliah or JenB's suggested Hephzibah?

[HeatherLynne]

Two of my ancestors have Hephzibah as a middle name - born 1850 and 1888.  They were mother and daughter.

Heather

[Winterbloom21]

I came across both names when looking for an explanation of the meaning - ie Hephziliah and Hephzibah.    Mine was definitely Hephziliah - and it was a mother and daughter too.

[Winterbloom21]

In answer to your question, RedMystic, it was a lady born in around 1875 in London with a daughter born around 1895.

[JenB]

On looking at the original image, turns out that it quite clearly reads 'Hephziliah'.           

Apologies, I misread Hephziliah for Hepzibah 

[Tipple]

I have another one - "Erkonwald" ....... (in 1901)

Tipple

[JenB]

There is a 'most uncommon name' thread here http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,69223.msg49944.html#msg49944