Show ContentsStedham History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Stedham family

The surname Stedham was first found in Gloucestershire where in pre 12th century records, the family is shown as branching to Dolgoer in Brecknockshire and into the county of Shropshire, they later branched to Strata Florida in Brecknock. John Stedeman was issued a Parliamentary Writ in 1306.

By the time of the Hundredorum Rolls in 1273, there were scattered listings of the family: Richard Stedeman, Cambridgeshire; and Gilbert de Stedman, Oxfordshire. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 included Johannes Stedeman. [1]

One source notes that there is much debate about the etymological origin of the name but generally, it is thought the name was Anglo-Saxon and derived from the words "stcade, a stead, station, or place," as in "a farm house and offices." "Steadman was therefore a farmer, or perhaps a farm-bailiff." [2]

Early History of the Stedham family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Stedham research. Another 77 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1321, 1621, 1630, 1640, 1668, 1673, 1677, 1713 and 1739 are included under the topic Early Stedham History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Stedham Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Stedham are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Stedham include: Stedman, Steadman and others.

Early Notables of the Stedham family

Notables of the family at this time include Fabian Stedman (1640-1713), English leading figure in campanology and bell-ringing, author of two books: Tintinnalogia (1668) and Campanalogia (1677) are the first two...
Another 30 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Stedham Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Stedham migration to the United States +

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Stedham or a variant listed above:

Stedham Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Benj' n Stedham, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1627 [3]
  • Benjamin Stedham, who landed in Delaware in 1693 [3]
  • Lucas Stedham, who arrived in Delaware in 1693 [3]
  • Lyloff Stedham, who landed in Delaware in 1693 [3]
  • Adam Stedham, who arrived in Delaware in 1693 [3]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Stedham migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Stedham Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • John Stedham, who landed in Canada in 1832

Contemporary Notables of the name Stedham (post 1700) +

  • John Stedham (1768-1851), known as Eolo, son of a white trader, Benjamin Stidham, he rose to become chief of the Muscogee Native American tribe
  • A. W. Stedham, American politician, Mayor of Salina, Kansas, 1948-49


The Stedham 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: Cuncta mea mecum
Motto Translation: My all is with me.


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. 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)


Houseofnames.com on Facebook