| ![Show Contents]() Stenson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The Stenson family comes from the ancient Scottish Dalriadan clans of the mountainous west coast of Scotland. The name Stenson is derived from Steven, and means son of Steven, a variant of Stephen, which meant crown or garland. 1 This personal name was popular throughout Christian Europe during the Middle Ages, mostly due to St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr. The name was Gaelicized as Mac Stiofáin. Early Origins of the Stenson familyThe surname Stenson was first found in Northumberland, where they were established since the early Middle Ages at Knaresdale Hall, and at Newcastle on Tyne. By 1150, they had moved north to Scotland in the parish of Newlands in Peebles (now part of the Strathclyde and Border regions), where Stevene Stevenson swore an oath of allegiance (recorded on the Ragman Rolls) to King Edward I of England during the latter's brief conquest of Scotland in 1296. Another early Scottish record of this surname dates back to 1372, when one Nichol fiz ('son of') Steven, chaplain of Scotland, was given a license to take shipping at London or Dovorre. 2 The name is "confined for the most part to the northern half of England, being especially frequent in county Durham, and afterwards in the North and East Ridings and Northumberland. It is also well established in Lincolnshire, and has made a substantial advance into the midlands as far as Warwickshire. Strangely enough it has an independent home in Sussex and Berks, where Stevens is also common. Generally speaking, however, it is absent or rare in the southern part of England, where its place is supplied by Stephens and Stevens. The Stevensons extend in force across the Scottish border, but do not usually reach beyond the Forth and the Clyde." 3 Early History of the Stenson familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Stenson research. Another 209 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1388, 1454, 1455, 1477, 1479, 1505, 1548, 1580, 1594, 1781, 1848 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Stenson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Stenson Spelling VariationsTranslation in medieval times was an undeveloped science and was often carried out without due care. For this reason, many early Scottish names appeared radically altered when written in English. The spelling variations of Stenson include Stevenson, Stephenson, Stephinson, Stevenston, Steenson, Stenson, Steinson, Stinson, Stephenton, Stynson, Stevensint, Stevensynd, Stevensent, Stympson, Stevensend, Stevensant, Steanson, Stevensyn, Stephenston, Stephensyn, Stevinson, Stevensan, Stevensind, Stevensane, Stimpson and many more. Early Notables of the Stenson familyMore information is included under the topic Early Stenson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Stenson RankingIn the United States, the name Stenson is the 9,625th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 4  Migration of the Stenson family to Ireland
Some of the Stenson family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 81 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Stenson migration to the United States | + |
The hardy Scots who made the crossing settled all along the east coast of North America and in the great west that was just then opening up. At the time of the American War of Independence, many United Empire Loyalists moved north from the American colonies to Canada. Scottish national heritage became better known in North America in the 20th century through highland games and other patriotic events. An examination of immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Stenson arrived in North America very early:
Stenson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- John Stenson, aged 20, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1834 5
| Stenson migration to Canada | + |
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: Stenson Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century- Mr. James Stenson who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Herald" departing 20th May 1847 from Dublin, Ireland; the ship arrived on 26th June 1847 but he died on board 6
| Stenson migration to Australia | + |
Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: Stenson Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century- Mrs. Eliza Stenson, (b. 1785), aged 44, Irish servant who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for life for murder, transported aboard the "Edward" on 1st January 1829, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died in 1851 7
| Stenson 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: Stenson Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century- J Stenson, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1842 aboard the ship Regia
| Contemporary Notables of the name Stenson (post 1700) | + |
- Dernell Renauld Stenson (1978-2003), American Major League Baseball outfielder who played in 2003 for the Cincinnati Reds
- William C. Stenson (b. 1900), American Republican politician, Member of Michigan State House of Representatives from Ontonagon District; Defeated, 1938; Elected 1940, 1942 8
- Edward G. Stenson, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Illinois, 1916 8
- Henrik Stenson (b. 1976), Swedish professional golfer on the PGA and European Tours
- Frederick "Fred" Stenson (b. 1951), Canadian writer of historical fiction and non-fiction relating to the Canadian West; his 2000 novel The Trade was shortlisted for Canada's Giller Prize
- Fred Frise Stenson (1914-1990), Canadian farmer and politician, Member of Parliament for Peterborough (1962-1965)
- Bo Gustav Stenson (b. 1944), Swedish jazz pianist, founder of The Bobo Stenson Trio
- Mary Stenson Scriven (b. 1962), United States federal judge for the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida
| Historic Events for the Stenson family | + |
- Miss Delia Stenson, English 3rd Class passenger residing in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 9
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: Coelum non solum
Motto Translation: Heaven not earth
- Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
- Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
- Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- 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)
- Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 96)
- Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 19th November 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/edward
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 9) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
- Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
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Stenson migration to the United States 
Stenson migration to Canada 
Stenson migration to Australia 
Stenson migration to New Zealand 
England
Scotland
Ireland
