Stepnie History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

When the ancestors of the Stepnie family emigrated to England following the Norman Conquest in 1066 they brought their family name with them. They lived in Pembrokeshire which is derived from the Old English word Stybbanhyp, meaning the dweller by the landing place.

Early Origins of the Stepnie family

The surname Stepnie was first found in Pembrokeshire at Prendergast. Alternatively, the name could have derived from Stepney, which is today a district of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in London's East End. The place dates back to c. 1000 where is was listed as Stybbanhythe and later in the Domesday Book it was listed as Stibanhede. In this latter case, the place name meant "landing place of a man called Stybba." 1

Early History of the Stepnie family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Stepnie research. Another 76 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1618, 1621, 1640, 1643, 1663, 1676 and 1707 are included under the topic Early Stepnie History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Stepnie Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries. For that reason, spelling variations are common among many Anglo-Norman names. The shape of the English language was frequently changed with the introduction of elements of Norman French, Latin, and other European languages; even the spelling of literate people's names were subsequently modified. Stepnie has been recorded under many different variations, including Stepney, Stepny, Stepnie and others.

Early Notables of the Stepnie family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir John Stepney, 1st Baronet; Sir John Stepney, 3rd Baronet (1618-ca.1676), a Welsh politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1640 to 1643, supporter of the Royalist side in the English Civil War; and George Stepney...
Another 46 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Stepnie Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Stepnie family to Ireland

Some of the Stepnie family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 34 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Stepnie family

To escape the uncertainty of the political and religious uncertainty found in England, many English families boarded ships at great expense to sail for the colonies held by Britain. The passages were expensive, though, and the boats were unsafe, overcrowded, and ridden with disease. Those who were hardy and lucky enough to make the passage intact were rewarded with land, opportunity, and social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families went on to be important contributors to the young nations of Canada and the United States where they settled. Stepnies were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America: Thomas Stepney who settled in Virginia in 1610; ten years before the "Mayflower"; followed by Thomas in 1624; and Samuell in 1670; John Stepney settled in Baltimore Maryland in 1775.

Contemporary Notables of the name Stepnie (post 1700) +

J Stepnie, Company Executive

The Stepnie 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 et vigilantia
Motto Translation: By faith and vigilance.