Stapylton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The history of the Stapylton family goes back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It is derived from the family living in the village of Stapleton which could be found in the counties of Cumberland, Gloucestershire, Leicestershire, Somerset and Yorkshire. The surname Stapylton is a habitation name that was originally derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. The surname originated as a means of identifying individuals from a particular area. In the Middle Ages people often assumed the name of the place that they originally lived as their surname during the course of travel. In this case the surname Stapylton was originally derived from the Old English terms which denoted a farm with a prominent pillar. 1

Early Origins of the Stapylton family

The surname Stapylton was first found in Yorkshire where they held a family seat from very ancient times, where tradition states that Octa, brother of Hengis, the Saxon invader, in the year 450, came north to defend his territory against the Picts, and established a fort on the banks of the Tees calling it Stapleton. In 1052, Heryon, was Lord of the manor of Stapleton upon Tees.

We draw the reader's attention to Saddleworth cum Quick in Yorkshire. "At the time of the Conquest, Saddleworth was constituted a manor; and in the year 1200, William de Stapleton, to whom it then belonged, founded a chapel here for his tenants, which he made subordinate to the church of St. Chad, Rochdale. From the Stapletons the portion of the manor called Friermere or Friar-Mere, which is in extent one-half of the chapelry." 2

Walter de Stapeldon (1261-1326), was Bishop of Exeter, and virtual founder of Exeter College, Oxford, a younger son of William and Mabilla de Stapeldon, was born at Annery in the parish of Monkleigh, Devonshire. 3

"The most notable of the ecclesiastical lords of Ashburton, [Devon] in his connection with that town, was Bishop Stapledon, who held the See of Exeter from 1308 to 1327. He was partial to the little burgh on the verge of the Dartmoor highlands, and frequently resided in its manor-house. Two years after his accession he procured the grant of a market and fair ; and four years later still founded the Guild or Fraternity of St. Lawrence, giving it a chapel which he had erected within the precincts of his court. The present edifice, therefore, very closely marks the site of the episcopal palace. " 4

Brian de Stapleton (1321?-1394), of Wighill, knight, was the second son of Sir Gilbert de Stapleton, and younger brother of Miles de Stapleton (d. 1364.)

"The manor of Carwythenack in the [parish of Constantine, Cornwall] belonged so early as the reign of Edward II. to the family of Stapleton." 5

Sir Miles Stapleton, of Bedale, Yorkshire was Lord of Ingham, Norfolk by marriage in 1360 to Joanna, daughter and sole heiress of Sir Oliver de Ingham.

Early History of the Stapylton family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Stapylton research. Another 111 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1080, 1268, 1320, 1322, 1364, 1394, 1535, 1598, 1617, 1648, 1657, 1660, 1669, 1679, 1681, 1683, 1690, 1695, 1698, 1705, 1708, 1727 and 1733 are included under the topic Early Stapylton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Stapylton 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 Stapylton include Stapylton, Stapleton, Stapulton, Stapilton, Stapledon and many more.

Early Notables of the Stapylton family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

Sir Henry Stapylton, 1st Baronet (c.1617-1679), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1648 and 1660, Member of Parliament for Boroughbridge
Sir Brian Stapylton, 2nd Baronet (c. 1657-1727), an English politician, Member of Parliament for Aldborough (1679-1681) and for Boroughbridge (1690-1695) and (1698-1705)

Migration of the Stapylton family to Ireland

Some of the Stapylton family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Stapylton family

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Stapylton or a variant listed above: Pierce Stapleton who settled in St. Christopher in 1635; Phillip Stapleton arrived in Boston Massachusetts in 1763; John and Mary Stapleton arrived in Boston in 1850 with their two children.

Contemporary Notables of the name Stapylton (post 1700) +

Sir Martin Stapylton (1751-1817), 8th Baronet of Myton, Yorkshire, English peer
Sir Martin Stapylton (1723-1801), 7th Baronet of Myton, Yorkshire, English peer
Sir John Stapylton (1718-1785), 6th Baronet of Myton, Yorkshire, English peer
Sir Brian Stapylton (1712-1772), 5th Baronet of Myton, Yorkshire, English peer
Granville William Chetwynd Stapylton (1800-1840), English-born, Australian surveyor who was killed by Aborigines on 31 May 1840, eponym of Stapylton, Queensland and Stapylton County
John Stapylton -Smith (b. 1961), retired New Zealand javelin thrower; he competed at the 1985 Pacific Conference Games, the 1985 World Cup and the 1986 Commonwealth Games
Lieutenant General Granville George Chetwynd- Stapylton (1823-1915), British Army officer, Colonel of the Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey) (1896–1902)
John Stapylton Habgood PC (1927-2019), Baron Habgood, a British Anglican bishop, academic, Bishop of Durham from 1973 to 1983, and Archbishop of York from 1983 to 1995

The Stapylton 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: Fide sed cui vide
Motto Translation: Trust, but in whom take care.

Citations +

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.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
Worth, R.N., A History of Devonshire London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.G., 1895. Digital
Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print