Show ContentsStanny History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Stanny family

The surname Stanny was first found in Cheshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. After the Battle of Hastings in 1066, William, Duke of Normandy, having prevailed over King Harold, granted most of Britain to his many victorious Barons. It was not uncommon to find a Baron, or a Bishop, with 60 or more Lordships scattered throughout the country. These he gave to his sons, nephews and other junior lines of his family and they became known as under-tenants. They adopted the Norman system of surnames which identified the under-tenant with his holdings so as to distinguish him from the senior stem of the family. After many rebellious wars between his Barons, Duke William, commissioned a census of all England to determine in 1086, settling once and for all, who held which land. He called the census the Domesday Book, 1 indicating that those holders registered would hold the land until the end of time. Hence, conjecturally, the surname is descended from the tenant of the village and lands of Stanney, held by Restald from Earl Hugh, a Norman Baron. who was recorded in the Domesday Book census of 1086.

Early History of the Stanny family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Stanny research. Another 83 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1289, 1435, 1504, 1584 and 1595 are included under the topic Early Stanny History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Stanny Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Stoney, Staney, Stanney, Sonney, Stonny, Stanny and many more.

Early Notables of the Stanny family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Thomas Stanley, 1st Earl of Derby, KG (1435-1504) was titular King of Mann, an English nobleman and stepfather to...
Another 26 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Stanny Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Stanny family to Ireland

Some of the Stanny family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 62 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Stanny migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Stanny Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Joan Stanny, who arrived in Virginia in 1643 2
  • Thomas Stanny, who landed in Virginia in 1666 2


The Stanny 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: Nunquam non paratus
Motto Translation: Never unprepared.


  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  2. 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)


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