Show ContentsStephenson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Dalriadan clans of ancient Scotland spawned the ancestors of the Stephenson family. Their name comes 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 Stephenson family

The surname Stephenson 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 Stephenson family

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

Stephenson Spelling Variations

The medieval practice of spelling according to sound and repeated translation between Gaelic and English created many spelling variations of the same name. Stephenson has been recorded as 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 Stephenson family

Notable among the family at this time was

  • George Stephenson (1781-1848), English engineer, principal inventor of the locomotive

Stephenson World Ranking

In the United States, the name Stephenson is the 643rd most popular surname with an estimated 44,766 people with that name. 4 However, in Canada, the name Stephenson is ranked the 687th most popular surname with an estimated 7,604 people with that name. 5 And in Australia, the name Stephenson is the 316th popular surname with an estimated 11,160 people with that name. 6 New Zealand ranks Stephenson as 419th with 1,579 people. 7 The United Kingdom ranks Stephenson as 253rd with 23,619 people. 8

Ireland Migration of the Stephenson family to Ireland

Some of the Stephenson 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.


United States Stephenson migration to the United States +

Descendents of Dalriadan-Scottish families still populate many communities across North America. They are particularly common in Canada, since many went north as United Empire Loyalists at the time of the American War of Independence. Much later, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the highland games and Clan societies that now dot North America sprang up, allowing many Scots to recover their lost national heritage. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Stephenson, or a variant listed above:

Stephenson Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Ann Stephenson, who arrived in Virginia in 1636 9
  • Christian and Anne Stephenson, who settled in Virginia in 1637
  • John Stephenson, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1645 9
  • Christopher Stephenson, who arrived in Maryland in 1654 9
  • Frances Stephenson, who landed in Maryland in 1654 9
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Stephenson Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Daniel Stephenson, who landed in America in 1764 9
  • Nancy Stephenson, who arrived in South Carolina in 1772 9
  • Thomas Stephenson, who settled in Maryland in 1774
  • Stephen Stephenson, who landed in Mississippi in 1798 9
Stephenson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Margaret Stephenson, aged 22, who arrived in New Castle or Philadelphia in 1804 9
  • Charles Stephenson, aged 29, who landed in New Castle or Philadelphia in 1804 9
  • Henry Stephenson, who landed in New York, NY in 1811 9
  • Hugh Stephenson, who landed in New York in 1812 9
  • Isaac Stephenson, who landed in New York in 1812 9
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Stephenson migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Stephenson Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Joseph Stephenson who settled in Argentia, in Newfoundland, in 1730 10
  • Capt. Francis Stephenson U.E. who settled in Home District [Niagara], Ontario c. 1786 he served in the Queens Rangers 11
Stephenson Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Joseph Stephenson, aged 18, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "Dorcas Savage" from Belfast, Ireland
  • Sarah Stephenson, aged 15, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Ambassador" in 1834
  • Diana Stephenson, aged 18, who arrived in Quebec in 1834
  • Ebenezer W Stephenson, who landed in Canada in 1836
Stephenson Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
  • W Stephenson, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1907

Australia Stephenson migration to Australia +

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

Stephenson Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Stephenson, English convict who was convicted in York, Yorkshire, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Duke of Portland" in January 1807, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
  • Mr. William Stephenson, British Convict who was convicted in Durham, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" on 11th August 1820, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 13
  • Mr. John Stephenson, British soldier who was convicted in India, transported aboard the "Cawdry" in 1826, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 14
  • Mr. James Stephenson(b. 1804), aged 22, Cornish settler convicted in Cornwall, UK on 3rd July 1826, sentenced for 14 years for larceny, transported aboard the ship "Midas" on 16th October 1826 to New South Wales, Australia 15
  • Mr. John Stephenson, English convict who was convicted in Durham, England for life, transported aboard the "Florentia" on 14th August 1827, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 16
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Stephenson 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:

Stephenson Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • S Stephenson, who landed in Bay of Islands, New Zealand in 1834 aboard the ship Fortitude
  • Timothy Stephenson, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
  • William Stephenson, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1844
  • D Stephenson, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Norman Morrison" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand, Via Wellington and Lyttleton in 1854 17
  • Mrs.Stephenson, Australian settler travelling from Hobart, Tasmania, Australia aboard the ship "Bonnie Doon" arriving in New Zealand in 1854 17
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Stephenson (post 1700) +

  • Riggs Stephenson (1898-1985), born Jackson Riggs Stephenson, American MLB left fielder, nicknamed Old Hoss
  • Robert Lloyd "Bob" Stephenson (1928-2020), American MLB player for the St. Louis Cardinals (1955)
  • John Winfield Stephenson (1923-2015), American actor, most active in voice-over roles, best known for his work on The Hobbit (1977), Charlotte's Web (1973) and The Flintstones (1960)
  • Samuel M. Stephenson (1803-1859), U.S. politician from Michigan
  • Neal Town Stephenson (b. 1959), American Hugo Award winning writer known primarily for his science fiction works
  • Jean Stephenson, award-winning California artist and teacher 18
  • Earl Stephenson (b. 1947), American former Major League Baseball pitcher
  • Benjamin Stephenson (b. 1822), American politician, Delegate to Illinois State Constitutional Convention from Madison County, 1818
  • Barbara Stephenson, American politician, U.S. Consul General in Belfast, 2001-04
  • Anne Stephenson, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Arizona, 2008
  • ... (Another 75 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

HMAS Sydney II
  • Mr. Walter Thomas William Stephenson (1920-1941), Australian Stoker from Bagdad, Tasmania, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 19
HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. R Stephenson, British Ship Write, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 20
HMS Royal Oak
  • John George Stephenson (1918-1939), British Able Seaman with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 21
RMS Titanic
  • Mrs. Martha Stephenson, (née Eustis), aged 52, French First Class passenger from Paris, France who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking escaping in life boat 4 22
USS Arizona
  • Mr. Hugh Donald Stephenson, American Seaman First Class from New York, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 23


The Stephenson 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: Coelum non solum
Motto Translation: Heaven not earth


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  2. 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)
  3. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  4. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  5. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  6. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  7. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  8. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
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  10. Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
  11. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  12. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/duke-of-portland
  13. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
  14. Convict Records of Australia. Retreived 13th January 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/cawdry
  15. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 30th May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_convicts.pdf
  16. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th October 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/florentia
  17. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  18. Jean Stephenson. (Retrieved 2010, September 27) Jean Stephenson. Retrieved from http://jeanstephenson.com/
  19. HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
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  21. Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
  22. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
  23. Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html


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