Contents [hide]

Staples History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Citations

Staples History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Staples is a name that was brought to England by the ancestors of the Staples family when they migrated to the region after the Norman Conquest in 1066. The Staples family 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 Staples family

The surname Staples 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 Staples 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 Staples family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Staples 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 Staples History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Staples Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence in the eras before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate regularly changed the spellings of their names as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Staples have been found, including Staple, Staples, Stapel, Stapels, Stapell, Stapelle, Stapells and many more.

Early Notables of the Staples 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...

Staples Ranking

In the United States, the name Staples is the 1,782^nd most popular surname with an estimated 17,409 people with that name. 6

Migration of the Staples family to Ireland

Some of the Staples 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.

Staples migration to the United States +

For many English families, the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. For such families, the shores of Ireland, Australia, and the New World beckoned. They left their homeland at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. Many arrived after the long voyage sick, starving, and without a penny. But even those were greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. Numerous English settlers who arrived in the United States and Canada at this time went on to make important contributions to the developing cultures of those countries. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Staples were among those contributors:

Staples Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Richard Staples, with his wife and child, with two maids and six men, settled in Virginia in 1622
Richard Staples, who arrived in Virginia in 1622 7
Richard Staples, who arrived in Virginia in 1650 7
Elizabeth Staples, who settled in Virginia in 1651
Eliza Staples, who landed in Virginia in 1651 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Staples Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Margaret Staples, who arrived in Virginia in 1701 7
William Staples, who arrived in Virginia in 1701 7
Thomas Staples, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1712 7
Susannah Staples, who settled in Maryland in 1775

Staples Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Jane Staples, who settled in Oswegatchie River NY in 1822
Mary Staples, aged 34, who landed in America in 1822 7
Jane Staples, aged 43, who landed in America in 1822 7
Luke Staples, who landed in Mississippi in 1846 7
Mr. Staples, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1850 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Staples migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Staples Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. Francis Staples U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 8

Staples Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Arnold B Staples, who arrived in Canada in 1841

Staples migration to Australia +

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

Staples Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. John Staples, English convict who was convicted in Worcester, Worcestershire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Fairlie" on 14th October 1833, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
George Samuel Staples, who arrived in Port Misery aboard the ship "Duchess of Northumberland" in 1839 10
Caroline Staples, who arrived in Port Misery aboard the ship "Duchess of Northumberland" in 1839 10
Mr. Samuel Staples, English convict who was convicted in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Barossa" on 27th August 1841, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 11
Robert Staples, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Symmetry" in 1848 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Staples 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:

Staples Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

John Staples, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
John Staples, who landed in Nelson, New Zealand in 1842 aboard the ship "Fifeshire"
Mr. Frederick Staples, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Nourmahal" arriving in Dunedin, Otaga, South Island, New Zealand on 5th May 1858 13
Mrs. Staples, British settler travelling from London with 3 sons and 2 daughters aboard the ship "Nourmahal" arriving in Dunedin, Otaga, South Island, New Zealand on 5th May 1858 13
Henry Staples, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Anne Dymes" in 1864
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Staples 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. 14

Staples Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Leonard Staples, aged 22, who arrived in Barbados in 1635 7
Mr. Leonard Staples, (b. 1613), aged 22, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Alexander" arriving in Barbados in 1635 15

Contemporary Notables of the name Staples (post 1700) +

Roebuck "Pops" Staples (1914-2000), American gospel and R&B musician, patriarch of the family who formed the group with his children the famed Staple Singers, an American gospel, soul, and R&B singing group, known for their 1970s hits "Respect Yourself", "I'll Take You There", "If You're Ready (Come Go with Me)", and "Let's Do It Again"
Isaac Staples (1816-1898), American lumber Baron in the St. Croix River Valley during the logging boom of the late 19th century
Mavis Staples (b. 1939), American gospel singer, member of the Staple Singers, daughter of "Pops" Staples
Pervis Staples (1935-2021), American gospel singer, member of the Staple Singers, daughter of "Pops" Staples
Cleotha Staples (1934-2013), American gospel singer, member of the Staple Singers, daughter of "Pops" Staples
Gary V. Staples (1940-2021), American Republican politician, Member of the Mississippi House of Representatives (2004-2020)
Yvonne Staples (1938-2018), American soul singer, member of The Staple Singers, inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2018
Emily Anne Staples Tuttle (1929-2018), née Mayer, an American politician, Member of the Minnesota Senate (1977-1981)
Abram Penn Staples (1885-1951), American politician, Attorney General of Virginia (1934-1947), Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia (1947-1951)
Waller Redd Staples (1826-1897), American politician, Congressman serving the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War
... (Another 46 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Staples family +

Halifax Explosion

Miss Winifred Alberta Staples (1915-1917), Canadian resident from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 16

The Staples 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)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 21st September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) THE DUCHESS OF NORTHUMBERLAND - 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839DuchessOfNorthumberland.htm
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barossa
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) SYMMETRY 1848. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1848Symmetry.gif
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's retrieved 28th September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance