Show ContentsStepp History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Stepp is part of the ancient legacy of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. Stepp was a name used for a person who "treads lightly" 1 or may refer "[to a person's] gait." 2

Early Origins of the Stepp family

The surname Stepp was first found in various counties and shires throughout England. Early records of the name were very scarce yet one source claims that John Stepsoft who was listed in 1260 as a probable ancestor. 1

Many years later, William Steptoe was listed in the Hearth Tax Returns for Oxfordshire in 1665 and in 1674, John Steptoe was listed in the Hearth Tax Rolls for Suffolk. 1 One branch of the family was established in Middlesex as Anthony Steptoe immigrated to America from there in 1676.

Early History of the Stepp family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Stepp research. Another 51 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1751, 1753, 1788 and 1802 are included under the topic Early Stepp History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Stepp Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Stepp include Stepto, Steptoe, Steptow, Steptowe and others.

Early Notables of the Stepp family

Another 38 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Stepp Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Stepp Ranking

In the United States, the name Stepp is the 2,586th most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. 3

Migration of the Stepp family

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Stepp were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: the name represented in many forms and recorded from the mid 17th century in the great migration from Europe. Migrants settled in the eastern seaboard from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands..


Contemporary Notables of the name Stepp (post 1700) +

  • Rodney Stepp (b. 1952), American keyboardist, songwriter, producer, and entrepreneur
  • Rick Stepp (b. 1973), American anthropologist and ethnobiologist, Associate Professor of Anthropology and Latin American Studies at the University of Florida
  • Cathy Stepp (b. 1963), American politician, Wisconsin State Senator-21st District (2003 – 2007)
  • Blake Stepp (b. 1982), American retired professional basketball player from Eugene, Oregon
  • W. B. Stepp, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Kentucky, 1912 4
  • Steve Stepp, American Democratic Party politician, Presidential Elector for Missouri, 1996 4
  • Robert Stepp, American Republican politician, Candidate for West Virginia State House of Delegates from Cabell County, 1972 4
  • P. C. Stepp, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Missouri, 1888 4
  • Marc Stepp, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Democratic National Committee from Michigan, 1979; Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 1980, 1984 4
  • Joel Stepp (b. 1983), Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played for the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
  • ... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


Suggested Readings for the name Stepp +

  • John Stepp and Allied Families by Jennie F. Downing Crow.
  • The Stepp Family Chronicles by William Wayne Stepp.

  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  4. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 6) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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