Stidham History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Stidham family

The surname Stidham 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 Stidham family

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

Stidham Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Stidham has been recorded under many different variations, including Stedman, Steadman and others.

Early Notables of the Stidham 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 Stidham Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Stidham Ranking

In the United States, the name Stidham is the 4,040^th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 3

Stidham migration to the United States +

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Stidham or a variant listed above:

Stidham Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Ferdimand Dutton Stidham, aged 50, who immigrated to New York, in 1918
Lewis W. Stidham, aged 59, who settled in Alameda, California, in 1923
Mary Stidham, aged 55, who immigrated to Alameda, California, in 1923

Contemporary Notables of the name Stidham (post 1700) +

Thomas E. "Tom" Stidham (1904-1964), American football player, coach, and college athletics administrator
Arbee Stidham (1917-1988), American blues singer
Kay Stidham, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 1972 4
Jerry E. Stidham (b. 1909), American Democratic Party politician, Member of West Virginia State House of Delegates from Logan County, 1947-52 4
Church R. Stidham, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Ohio 2nd District, 1988 4
Barbara Stidham (b. 1930), American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from California, 2004 4

The Stidham 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.

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 18) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html