Jepson

Jepson is primarily encountered as a surname of English origin, borne by individuals in various historical and contemporary contexts. In the field of botany, the name is especially prominent due to the work associated with Willis Linn Jepson, an American botanist who devoted extensive study to the flora of California and who contributed significantly to the science of plant taxonomy and conservation.

A major botanical reference linked to the Jepson name is the Jepson Manual: Higher Plants of California. This authoritative flora provides comprehensive treatments of native and naturalized vascular plants found in California and is widely used by researchers, students, and practitioners. The manual is produced and maintained in connection with the Jepson Herbarium at the University of California, Berkeley, an institution that preserves plant collections, supports taxonomic research, and coordinates projects related to California botany.

Beyond these botanical associations, Jepson also appears as a surname in various other contexts, carried by individuals across different professions and regions. The name’s prominence in California botany has contributed to a broader recognition of Jepson within academic and natural-history communities, even as it remains a family name shared by people unrelated to these scientific works.

In sum, Jepson is chiefly identified in scholarly circles through Willis Linn Jepson and the related botanical resources—the Jepson Manual and Jepson Herbarium—that focus on California’s plant life. The surname itself extends beyond this domain to broader use in society.