Stanhopes History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Stanhopes family

The surname Stanhopes was first found in Durham at Stanhope, a small market town in the wapentake of Darlington which "gave name to this knightly family of whom the first recorded ancestor is Walter de Stanhope, whose son Richard died at Stanhope in 1338 or 1339." 1

The town actually dates back further to 1183 when it was first listed as Stanhopa. Literally the town's name means "stony valley" from the Old English words "stan" + "hop." 2

The parish of Shelford in Nottinghamshire was home to a tragic event in the family. "The manor-house [of Shelford] was garrisoned by Colonel Stanhope, son of the first earl of Chesterfield, for Charles I., and was taken by storm by Colonel Hutchinson, for the parliament, after a gallant resistance, during which Colonel Stanhope and most of his men were slain. The church is a handsome structure in the later English style; it is the burial-place of the noble family of Stanhope. An hospital called the Bede Houses, was founded and endowed in 1694, by Sir William Stanhope, for the reception and support of six of his decayed tenants. " 3

Over in Horsley, Derbyshire another branch of the family was found in early days. "On the summit of a hill, about a mile from the church, are the ruins of the baronial castle of Horestan, or Horston, said to have been built in the twelfth century; in the time of Elizabeth, the edifice was in the possession of the Stanhope family, and, it is said, was occupied by them." 3

Early History of the Stanhopes family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Stanhopes research. Another 117 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1471, 1511, 1546, 1552, 1584, 1608, 1609, 1626, 1627, 1628, 1634, 1656, 1660, 1667, 1673, 1679, 1685, 1689, 1690, 1694, 1703, 1708, 1711, 1714, 1717, 1721 and 1756 are included under the topic Early Stanhopes History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Stanhopes Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Stanhope, Stanehop, Stanehope, Stenhop, Stanhopes and others.

Early Notables of the Stanhopes family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was Sir Michael Stanhope (d. 1552), partisan of the Protector Somerset, second son of Sir Edward Stanhope (d. 1511); Sir Edward Stanhope (1546?-1608), Chancellor of the diocese of London, born at Hull about 1546, was the fourth son of Sir Michael Stanhope; Philip Stanhope (1584-1656), 1st Earl of Chesterfield, an English nobleman, aristocrat and royalist, created the first Earl of Chesterfield by King Charles I in 1628; Katherine Stanhope, Countess of Chesterfield (1609-1667), governess and confidante of Mary, Princess Royal and...
Another 89 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Stanhopes Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Stanhopes family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Henry Stanhope who settled in New York State in 1811 with his wife; Samuel Stanhope settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1868.

The Stanhopes 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: A Deo et rege
Motto Translation: From God and the king.

Citations +

Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.