Show ContentsStacy History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Strongbownian invaders added their Norman conventions for surnames to the previously established Irish system for hereditary surnames. One of the most frequent forms of surnames for both cultures was the patronymic surname, which was formed from the name of the bearer's father or grandfather. The Norman tradition that the followers of Strongbow brought with them created such a surname through diminutive suffixes such as "-ot," "-et," "-un," "-in," or "-el." Occasionally, two suffixes were combined to form a double diminutive, as in the combinations of "-el-in," "-el-ot," "-in-ot," and "-et-in." The Normans also formed patronymic surnames in a manner very similar to the Irish: they added a prefix to their father's name. These Anglo-Norman people, however, used the prefix Fitz-, which was derived from the French word "fils," and ultimately from the Latin "filius," which both mean "son." Although this prefix probably originated in Flanders or Normandy, it can now only be found in Ireland. The surname Stacy is derived from the personal name Eustace. This name is derived from the Latin name "Eustacius," which in turn is derived from the distinct Greek names "Eustakhios," which means "fruitful," and "Eustathios," which means "orderly."

Early Origins of the Stacy family

The surname Stacy was first found in County Meath, Wicklow and Wexford. They were Barons of Meath and later became the Viscounts Baltinglass.

Some of the family claim descent through the O'Briens and thereby the Heber Kings of Ireland. "Sir Roland Eustace, or Fitz Eustace, Lord Portlester, was descended from a branch or the Geraldines to whom Henry II. had granted the country round Nass. In 1454 he was appointed Deputy to Richard, Duke of York; and again in 1462 he filled the same office for the Duke of Clarence." [1]

Stacey and its variants are a derivative of Eustace and are principally found in Wicklow and Wexford. [2]

Early History of the Stacy family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Stacy research. Another 166 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1066, 1200, 1639 and 1702 are included under the topic Early Stacy History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Stacy Spelling Variations

Church officials and medieval scribes often simply spelled names as they sounded. As a result, a single person's name may have been recorded a dozen different ways during his lifetime. Spelling variations for the name Stacy include: FitzEustace, Eustace, Eustice, Eustis, Stacy, Stacey, Stasey, Stacie, Stacie, Staicey, Staycey and many more.

Early Notables of the Stacy family

More information is included under the topic Early Stacy Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Stacy Ranking

In the United States, the name Stacy is the 1,619th most popular surname with an estimated 19,896 people with that name. [3]


United States Stacy migration to the United States +

The Irish emigration during the late 18th and 19th century contributed to the melting pot of nationalities in North America, and the building of a whole new era of industry and commerce in what was seen as a rich, new land. Ireland'sGreat Potato Famine resulted in the worst economic and social conditions in the island's history. And in response to the hunger, disease, and poverty, during this decade the total number of emigrants to leave for North America rivaled all the previous years combined. Those from this decade that arrived on North American shores were not warmly welcomed by the established population, but they were vital to the rapid development of the industry, agriculture, and infrastructure of the infant nations of the United States and what would become Canada. Research into early immigration and passenger lists has shown many people bearing the name Stacy:

Stacy Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • George Stacy, who settled in Virginia in 1636
  • Geo Stacy, who landed in Virginia in 1636 [4]
  • Hugh Stacy, who landed in Dedham, Massachusetts in 1640 [4]
  • John Stacy, who arrived in Lynn, Massachusetts in 1641 [4]
  • Henry Stacy, who landed in Marblehead, Massachusetts in 1648 [4]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Stacy Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Frederick Stacy, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1806 [4]
  • J F Stacy, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1849 [4]
  • S Stacy, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 [4]
  • Charles G Stacy, aged 48, who landed in Mobile, Ala in 1874 [4]

Canada Stacy migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Stacy Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Matthias Stacy, who arrived in Canada in 1831

Australia Stacy migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Stacy Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • James Stacy, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Charles Kerr" in 1840 [5]
  • Mary Stacy, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Charles Kerr" in 1840 [5]
  • Sarah Stacy, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Charles Kerr" in 1840 [5]
  • John Stacy, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Charles Kerr" in 1840 [5]
  • Harriet Stacy, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Charles Kerr" in 1840 [5]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Stacy migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Stacy Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • James Stacy, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1841
  • Mrs. Grace Stacy, (b. 1847), aged 18, Cornish domestic servant departing on 21st January 1865 aboard the ship "Greyhound" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 7th May 1865 [6]
  • Mr. John Stacy, (b. 1843), aged 22, Cornish farm labourer departing on 21st January 1865 aboard the ship "Greyhound" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 7th May 1865 [6]
  • Mr. William Stacy, (b. 1846), aged 19, Cornish farm labourer departing on 21st January 1865 aboard the ship "Greyhound" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 7th May 1865 [6]

Contemporary Notables of the name Stacy (post 1700) +

  • Bill W. Stacy (1938-2024), American educator and university administrator, founding president of California State University San Marcos from 1989 to 1997, Chancellor of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga from 1997 to 2004
  • Billy McGovern Stacy (1936-2019), American NFL football player ho played from 1959 to 1963
  • James Stacy (1936-2016), stage name of Maurice William Elias, an American film and television actor, best remembered as a star of the western series Lancer
  • Walter Parker Stacy (b. 1884), American Democratic Party politician, Superior Court Judge in North Carolina 8th District, 1916-20; Justice of North Carolina State Supreme Court, 1921; Chief Justice of North Carolina State Supreme Court, 1925-51 [7]
  • Ted T. Stacy (b. 1923), American Democratic Party politician, Member of West Virginia State House of Delegates, 1959-60, 1969-70, 1973-79 (Raleigh County 1959-60, 1969-70, 1973-74, 18th District 1975-79)Member of West Virginia State Senate 9th District, 1983-86 [7]
  • Roger Stacy, American Republican politician, Candidate for West Virginia State House of Delegates 21st District, 2012 [7]
  • Rick Stacy, American politician, Candidate for Mayor of Southlake, Texas, 2009 [7]
  • Richmond Stacy (b. 1927), American politician, Member of South Carolina State Senate from Cherokee County, 1927; Died in office 1927 [7]
  • Richard A. Stacy, American politician, U.S. Attorney for Wyoming, 1981-94 [7]
  • Nellie Stacy, American Republican politician, Presidential Elector for Missouri, 1924 [7]
  • ... (Another 20 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


The Stacy Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Cur me persequeris?
Motto Translation: Why persecutest thou me?


Suggested Readings for the name Stacy +

  • Simon Stacy and His Descendants by Virginia Meadows McCann.
  • Stacy, a Record of Some of the Descendants of William Stacy of Hawkins County, Tennessee..

  1. O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees 5th Edition in 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1976. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0737-4)
  2. MacLysaght, Edward, Supplement to Irish Families. Baltimore: Genealogical Book Company, 1964. Print.
  3. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  4. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  5. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CHARLES KERR 1840. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1840CharlesKerr.htm
  6. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to Lyttelton 1858-84 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf
  7. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, April 29) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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