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Steedman History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Steedman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Steedman family

The surname Steedman 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 Steedman family

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

Steedman Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Steedman family name include Stedman, Steadman and others.

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

Steedman migration to the United States +

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, Canada, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Steedman surname or a spelling variation of the name include:

Steedman Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Charles Steedman, who landed in Charleston, South Carolina in 1800 3
James Steedman, who arrived in Charleston, South Carolina in 1800 3

Steedman migration to Australia +

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

Steedman Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. David Steedman, Scottish convict who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for 14 years, transported aboard the "Competitor"18th March 1823, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 4
William Steedman, aged 28, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1850 aboard the ship "Agincourt" 5
William Steedman, aged 28, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Agincourt" in 1850 5

Steedman migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Steedman Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

James Steedman, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "William Watson" in 1859
Elizabeth Steedman, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "William Watson" in 1859
Miss Elizabeth Steedman, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "William Watson" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 8th February 1859 6
Mr. James Steedman, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "William Watson" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 8th February 1859 6
James Steedman, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ernestina" in 1865

Contemporary Notables of the name Steedman (post 1700) +

James Blair Steedman (1817-1883), American soldier, printer, and politician
James B. Steedman, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Ohio, 1860
Mrs. Charles J. Steedman, American Republican politician, Member of Republican National Committee from Rhode Island, 1924
Anthony "Tony" Steedman (1927-2001), British actor, best known for his role as Socrates in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure
Shirley Steedman (b. 1950), British actor, best known role is Monica in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969)
Peter Steedman (b. 1943), Australia politician, Member of the Australian Parliament for Casey (1983-1984)
Neville Steedman, Irish soccer player during the 1980s
Mark Steedman FBA, FRSE (b. 1946), British computational linguist and cognitive scientist
Ian Steedman (b. 1941), British professor of economics in Manchester, England
Henry Steedman (1866-1953), Scottish-born Australian botanist
... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Steedman 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.
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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/competitor
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The AGINCOURT 1850. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850Agincourt.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html