Stevenso History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland
Ireland

This scripture name, like many others, was not introduced here until the Norman Conquest, after which we find it in the form of Fitz-Stephen. It occupies a large place among our surnames in the usual genitive forms of Stephens. Stevens, Steevens, Stephenson, Stevenson, &c. A nicked or abbreviated form furnishes us with our Steen, Steenson, Stimson, Stimpson, Stinson, Stibbs: perhaps also Stubbs, Steff, Stiff, and Stennett. Tiffany and Tiffin, from Stephanus, belong to the same category. 1

"This name was introduced into Britain by the Normans, with whom it was a favorite. Although found occasionally in England before 1066 its use then was due really to Christian tradition, Stephen (Stephanos) having been the first Christian martyr after Christ." 2

Early Origins of the Stevenso family

The surname Stevenso was first found in Essex where Adam Steveneson was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of 1327. Later, John Stephenson was listed at Whitby, Yorkshire in 1395. 3 The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 included an entry for Thomas Stevenson. 4

In Somerset, we found the truncated entries for Philip Stevene; and William Stevene, Somerset, 1 Edward III (during the first year of the reign of King Edward III.) 5

"The present family of Stimpson may possess an ancestor in John Stimpson, who lived at Burston, in Diss, in 1742." 6 John Stimpson from Norwich, Norfolk was listed there in 1742. 7

The first record of the Stinson variant was found in Yorkshire where Corpus Christi Guild (Surtees Society) listed Joseph Stinson, but no date was given. Welford's History of Newcastle and Gateshead records "in a muster-roll of able-bodied men at Newcastle-on-Tyne in 1539 occur the names of: Edward Stynson; Stewyn Sotheron; Allen Stewenson; and John Stewynsone. 8

Early History of the Stevenso family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Stevenso research. Another 180 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1150, 1296, 1455, 1552, 1581, 1583, 1584, 1585, 1624, 1654, 1685, 1742, 1764, 1833 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Stevenso History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Stevenso Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Stevenson, Stephenson, Stephinson, Stevenston, Steenson, Stenson, Steinson and many more.

Early Notables of the Stevenso family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was

Matthew Stevenson (fl. 1654-1685), English minor poet, who was probably of Yorkshire origin, and a resident for the greater part of his life in Norfolk. 9

Migration of the Stevenso family to Ireland

Some of the Stevenso family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 186 words (13 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 Stevenso family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Joseph Stephenson who settled in Argentia, in Newfoundland, in 1730; William and Mathew Stevenson settled in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland, in 1760; Andrew Stevenson settled at Charlestown Massachusetts in 1630.

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. 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)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print