Contents [hide]

Staple History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Suggested Reading Citations

Staple History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The Norman Conquest of England in 1066 brought much change to the island nation, including many immigrants with new names. Among these immigrants were the ancestors of the Staple family, who lived in Kent having derived from the Old French word estaple, meaning market-place, and indicates a person who lived near such a place. Another source claims that the name literally meant "dweller by a post or posts," from the Old English word stapol, meaning "post" or "pillar." 1

Early Origins of the Staple family

The surname Staple was first found in Kent at Staple-next-Wingham, a parish, in the union of Eastry, hundred of Downhamford, lathe of St. Augustine. This place name dates back to 1205 when it was first listed as Staples. 2 The first record of the name was Robert de Stapel who was listed there in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. 3

The Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire listed Walter de Stapel in 1275, and Osmund atte Staple was listed in Place Names of Surrey in 1279. Richard de Staples and John Stapel were both listed in the Feet of Fines of Essex in 1321. 1

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 list: Robertus Staple, mercer; and Willwelmus Staple. 3

Staple-Fitzpaine is a parish, in the union of Taunton, hundred of Abdick and Bulstone, W. division of Somerset. The Fitzpaine family added the suffix in the 14th century so it is unlikely that the Staple family originated there. 4 However, this latter place name does date back to the Domesday Book of 1086 when it was first listed as Staple. 5

Early History of the Staple family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Staple research. Another 85 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1200, 1490, 1530, 1534, 1560, 1653, 1672, 1673, 1684, 1693, 1714, 1730 and 1741 are included under the topic Early Staple History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Staple Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years the English language had no fixed system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations occurred commonly in Anglo Norman surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Staple were recorded, including Staple, Staples, Stapel, Stapels, Stapell, Stapelle, Stapells and many more.

Early Notables of the Staple family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Edward Staple or Staples (1490?-1560?), Bishop of Meath, born probably about 1490, is said to have been a native of Lincolnshire or Lancashire...
In 1530, at King Henry's request, the Pope provided Staples to the bishopric of Meath...

Migration of the Staple family to Ireland

Some of the Staple family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 88 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Staple migration to the United States +

The unstable environment in England at this time caused numerous families to board ships and leave in search of opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad in places like Ireland, Australia, and particularly the New World. The voyage was extremely difficult, however, and only taken at great expense. The cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels caused many to arrive diseased and starving, not to mention destitute from the enormous cost. Still opportunity in the emerging nations of Canada and the United States was far greater than at home and many went on to make important contributions to the cultures of their adopted countries. An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Staple arrived in North America very early:

Staple Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Joane Staple, who arrived in Maryland in 1655 6
James Staple, who landed in Virginia in 1657 6
Sarah Staple, who arrived in Maryland in 1659 6
Eliz Staple, who arrived in Virginia in 1664 6
Robert Staple, who landed in Virginia in 1666 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Staple Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Margery Staple, who arrived in Virginia in 1704 6
Eliza Staple, who landed in Virginia in 1714 6

Staple Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

George Staple, aged 36, who landed in New York in 1812 6
Mrs. Ellen Staple, (b. 1802), aged 47, Cornish settler departing from Penzance aboard the ship "Cornwall" arriving in the United States on 23rd August 1849 7
Miss Elisa Ann Staple, (b. 1838), aged 11, Cornish settler departing from Penzance aboard the ship "Cornwall" arriving in the United States on 23rd August 1849 7

Staple migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Staple Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

John C. Staple from Bristol, England, settled in English Harbour West in 1840

Staple migration to Australia +

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

Staple Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

John Staple, English convict from Somerset, who was transported aboard the "Anna Maria" on March 6, 1848, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 8

Staple 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:

Staple Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

John Staple, aged 28, a farmer, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Fifeshire" in 1842 9
Fanny Staple, aged 23, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Fifeshire" in 1842 9
John Staple, aged 3, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Fifeshire" in 1842 9
Betsy Staple, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Fifeshire" in 1842 9
Samuel Staple, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Portland" in 1864

Staple migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 10

Staple Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Leonard Staple, who settled in Barbados in 1685

Contemporary Notables of the name Staple (post 1700) +

G. H. Staple, American politician, Member of Texas State House of Representatives 87th District, 1887-88 11

The Staple 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: Sans dieu rien
Motto Translation: Without God nothing.

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
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)
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to New York 1820 - 1891 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_new_york_1820_1891.pdf
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2015, January 8) Anna Maria voyage to Van Diemen's Land or Port Phillip, Australia in 1848 with 190 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/anna-maria/1848
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 4th November 2011). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, March 9) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html