Stoneham History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The Stoneham family claim descent from Aspal Stonham, Earl Stonham or Stonham Parva, all located in Suffolk. Each parish is located in the union and hundred of Bosmere and Claydon. 1 2

All date back to Saxon times when they collectively were known as Stonham c. 1040. By the time of the Domesday Book of 1086, they were known as Stanham. 3

Literally the place name means "homestead by a stone or with stony ground," from the Old English words "stan" + "ham." 4 Aspal Stonham is a manorial affix for the de Aspale family who have been there since the 13th century.

Early Origins of the Stoneham family

The surname Stoneham was first found in Suffolk where Robert de Stanham was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of 1177. Later in the same county, John de Stanham was listed in 1205 and later again, Roger Stonham was found in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1333. 5

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included: William de Stonham, Cambridgeshire; and Stephen de Stonham, Lincolnshire. 6

Early History of the Stoneham family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Stoneham research. Another 63 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1423, 1525, 1603, 1605 and 1790 are included under the topic Early Stoneham History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Stoneham Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Stoneham include Stoneham, Stonham, Stanham, Stannum and others.

Early Notables of the Stoneham family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

John Stoneham, University of Oxford graduate in 1605

Stoneham migration to Australia +

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

Stoneham Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. James Stoneham, (Cheeseman, William), (b. 1788), aged 19, British Convict who was convicted in Sandgate, Kent, England, transported aboard the "Duke of Portland" in January 1807, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 7
Mr. James Stoneham, (Cheeseman, William), English convict who was convicted in Sandgate, Folkestone, England for life, transported aboard the "Duke of Portland" in January 1807, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 8
Miss. Mary Stoneham, British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England, for life, transported aboard the "Lord Melville" in August 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
Mr. Peter Stoneham, British convict who was convicted at Southampton, Hampshire, England for life, transported aboard the "England" on 6th June 1835, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
Mr. Peter Stoneham, British convict who was convicted in Southampton, Hampshire, England for life, transported aboard the "England" on 6th June 1835, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Stoneham Settlers in Australia in the 20th Century

Mr. John Stoneham, British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England, transported aboard the "Ganges" in August 1796, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12

Contemporary Notables of the name Stoneham (post 1700) +

William "Bill" Stoneham (b. 1947), American artist and writer, best known for his painting The Hands Resist Him
John Stoneham Jr., American actor, known for his work on Star Trek Into Darkness (2013), Independence Day: Resurgence (2016) and Godzilla (2014)
John Stoneham Sr. (b. 1944), American stuntman, known for his work on X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014), Black Christmas (1974) and X-Men (2000)
Horace Charles Stoneham (1903-1990), American Major League Baseball executive and the owner of the New York/San Francisco Giants from 1936 to 1976, son of Charles A. Stoneham
Charles A. Stoneham (1876-1936), American owner of the New York Giants baseball team and the New York Giants soccer team
Tom Stoneham, British philosopher, Professor of Philosophy and the Head of the Department of Philosophy at the University of York, England
Clive Philip Stoneham OBE (1909-1992), Australian politician, Member for Maryborough and Daylesford (1942-1945), Leader of the Australian Labor Party in Victoria (1958-1967), Leader of the Opposition (Victoria) (1958-1967)
Barry Stoneham (b. 1968), former Australian rules footballer who played from 1986 to 2000
Benjamin Russell Mackintosh Stoneham (b. 1948), Baron Stoneham of Droxford is a British peer, journalist, and politician

The Stoneham 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: Sublimiora petamus
Motto Translation: Let us seek higher things.

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Convict Record. Retrieved 23rd March 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/convicts/stoneham/james/110654
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/duke-of-portland
Convict records. Retrieved 23rd March 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/convicts/stoneham/mary/65356
Convict records. Retrieved 23rd March 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/convicts/stoneham/peter/32930
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th April 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/england
Convict Records. Retrieved 23rd March 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/convicts/stoneham/john/43676