ˈeɪtʃ. tˈiː. mˈʊɹhaʊs stˈeɪts, ɪn hɪz hˈɪstɚɹi ʌv kˈɜːkbɜːtən ænd ðə ɡɹˈeɪvʃɪp ʌv hˈoʊm wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti wˈʌn, ðætðə nˈeɪm ɪz dᵻɹˈaɪvd fɹʌmðɪ ˈæŋɡloʊsˈæksən “hˈɛp” mˈiːnɪŋ hˈaɪ ænd “wˈɜːθ” mˈiːnɪŋ plˈeɪs ʌv ɹˈɛzᵻdəns.
H. T. Moorhouse states, in his History of Kirkburton and the Graveship of Holme (1861), that the name is derived from the Anglo-Saxon “Hep” meaning high and “worth” meaning place of residence.