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Show ContentsStevenson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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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 Stevenson family

The surname Stevenson 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 Stevenson family

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

Stevenson Spelling Variations

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

Early Notables of the Stevenson 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

Stevenson World Ranking

In the United States, the name Stevenson is the 345th most popular surname with an estimated 77,097 people with that name. 10 However, in Canada, the name Stevenson is ranked the 297th most popular surname with an estimated 14,772 people with that name. 11 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Stevenson is the 689th popular surname with an estimated 63 people with that name. 12 Australia ranks Stevenson as 240th with 14,208 people. 13 New Zealand ranks Stevenson as 85th with 4,418 people. 14 The United Kingdom ranks Stevenson as 155th with 34,021 people. 15

Ireland Migration of the Stevenson family to Ireland

Some of the Stevenson 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.

United States Stevenson migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Stevenson Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Andrew Stevenson, who arrived at Charlestown Massachusetts in 1630
  • Andrew Stevenson settled at Charlestown, Massachusetts in 1630
  • Rich Stevenson, (Steevenson), aged 19, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Globe" 16
  • Christ Stevenson, who arrived in Virginia in 1637 16
  • And Stevenson, (Steevenson), who arrived in Virginia in 1650 16
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Stevenson Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Allen Stevenson, who arrived in America in 1700 16
  • James Stevenson, who arrived in New England in 1728 16
  • Thomas Stevenson, who landed in Virginia in 1740 16
  • Barnabas Stevenson, who landed in America in 1760-1763 16
  • Robert Stevenson, who settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1763
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Stevenson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • John Stevenson, who arrived in America in 1802 16
  • James Stevenson, who arrived in America in 1810 16
  • Martha Stevenson, who landed in Baltimore, Maryland in 1811 16
  • Thomas Stevenson, who landed in America in 1811 16
  • William Stevenson, who arrived in New York, NY in 1812 16
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Stevenson migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Stevenson Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • John Stevenson, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
  • William and Mathew Stevenson, who settled in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland, in 1760 17
  • Martha Stevenson, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1778
  • Mr. William Stevenson U.E. who settled in St. Stephen, New Brunswick c. 1784 18
Stevenson Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • James Stevenson, aged 65, a farmer, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Atlas" in 1815
  • Andrew Stevenson, aged 19, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Favourite" in 1815
  • Donald Stevenson, aged 21, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Favourite" in 1815
  • Sam Stevenson, who landed in Canada in 1821
  • Samuel Stevenson, who arrived in Quebec in 1821
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Stevenson migration to Australia +

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

Stevenson Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • John Stevenson, a butcher, who arrived in New South Wales, Australia sometime between 1825 and 1832
  • Thomas Stevenson, a nailor, who arrived in Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania) sometime between 1825 and 1832
  • David Stevenson, Scottish convict from Edinburgh, who was transported aboard the "Albion" on May 29, 1828, settling in New South Wales, Australia 19
  • Mr. Thomas Stevenson, (Steel) who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Bussorah Merchant" on 24th March 1828, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 20
  • Mr. William Stevenson, (b. 1797), aged 31, English convict who was convicted in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 25th June 1828, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 21
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Stevenson 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:

Stevenson Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Burleigh R Stevenson, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
  • Thomas Stevenson, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
  • Isabella Blair Stevenson, aged 50, who arrived in Otago aboard the ship "Philip Laing" in 1848
  • Ann Stevenson, aged 30, who arrived in Otago aboard the ship "Philip Laing" in 1848
  • James Stevenson, aged 26, a farmer, who arrived in Otago aboard the ship "Philip Laing" in 1848
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

West Indies Stevenson migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 22
Stevenson Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • Christopher Stevenson, (Steevenson), aged 19, who landed in St Christopher in 1635 16
  • Mr. Christopher Stevenson, (b. 1616), aged 19, British settler traveling aboard the ship "William and John" arriving in St Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635 23
  • Richard Stevenson, who settled in Barbados in 1654

Contemporary Notables of the name Stevenson (post 1700) +

  • Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894), Scottish author of Treasure Island and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
  • Venetia Stevenson (1938-2022), born Joanna Venetia Invicta Stevenson, an English-born, American film and television actress, daughter of the director Robert Stevenson, known for Day of the Outlaw (1959), Island of Lost Women (1959), Studs Lonigan (1960), Seven Ways from Sundown (1960), The City of the Dead (1960) and many more
  • Richard Stevenson Lipez (1938-2022), known by his pen name Richard Stevenson, an American journalist and mystery author, best known for his Donald Strachey mysteries
  • Colby Stevenson (b. 1997), American silver medalist freestyle skier at the 2022 Winter Olympics from Portsmouth, New Hampshire
  • Thyra Kay Stevenson (1944-2020), American politician, Member of the Idaho House of Representatives (2012-2014)
  • Harold Moncreau Stevenson Jr. (1929-2018), American painter known for his paintings of the male nude
  • William S. Stevenson, American Republican politician, Postmaster at Clay Center, Kansas, 1959-73 24
  • William Henry Stevenson (1891-1978), American Republican politician, La Crosse County District Attorney, 1940; U.S. Representative from Wisconsin 3rd District, 1941-49; Defeated, 1948 24
  • William Francis Stevenson (1861-1942), American Democratic Party politician, Member of South Carolina State House of Representatives, 1896; U.S. Representative from South Carolina 5th District, 1917-33 24
  • William Erskine Stevenson (1820-1883), American Republican politician, President of the West Virginia State Senate, 1865-68; Presidential Elector for West Virginia, 1864; Governor of West Virginia, 1869-71; Defeated, 1870 24
  • ... (Another 147 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Air New Zealand Flight 901
  • Mr. Anthony James Leonard Stevenson (d. 1979), New Zealander passenger, from Picton, South Island, New Zealand aboard the Air New Zealand Flight 901 for an Antarctic sightseeing flight when it flew into Mount Erebus; he died in the crash 25
Empress of Ireland
  • Mrs. Margaret Stevenson (1881-1914), née Hardy Irish Third Class Passenger from Belfast, Ireland who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 26
  • Mrs. Fanny Stevenson (1873-1914), née Riddell Canadian Third Class Passenger from Toronto, Ontario, Canada who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 26
  • Mr. Charles Alexander Stevenson (1867-1914), Canadian Third Class Passenger from Toronto, Ontario, Canada who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 26
Halifax Explosion
  • Mrs. Christina  Stevenson (1895-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 27
HMAS Sydney II
HMS Hood
  • Mr. Basil P Stevenson, Midshipman serving for the Royal Navy Reserve, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 29
  • Mr. Noel Stevenson (b. 1920), English Ordnance Artificer 5th Class serving for the Royal Navy from Wimbledon, Surrey, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 29
HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. John Stevenson, British Marine, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 30
  • Mr. Stevenson, British Coder, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 30
  • Mr. Stevenson, British Engine Room Artificer, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 30
HMS Royal Oak
  • John Stevenson (1916-1939), British Marine with the Royal Marine aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 31
  • Edward John Stevenson (d. 1939), British Boy 1st Class with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 31
Pan Am Flight 103 (Lockerbie)
  • John Charles Stevenson (1950-1988), English Passenger from Surrey, England, who flew aboard the Pan Am Flight 103 from Frankfurt to Detroit, known as the Lockerbie bombing in 1988 and died 32
  • Geraldine Anne Stevenson (1951-1988), English Passenger from Surrey, England, who flew aboard the Pan Am Flight 103 from Frankfurt to Detroit, known as the Lockerbie bombing in 1988 and died 32
  • Hannah Louise Stevenson (1978-1988), English Passenger from Surrey, England, who flew aboard the Pan Am Flight 103 from Frankfurt to Detroit, known as the Lockerbie bombing in 1988 and died 32
  • Rachael Stevenson (1980-1988), English Passenger from Surrey, England, who flew aboard the Pan Am Flight 103 from Frankfurt to Detroit, known as the Lockerbie bombing in 1988 and died 32
RMS Lusitania
  • Mr. Hugh Stevenson, English 3rd Class passenger residing in Yonkers, New York, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 33
  • Miss Elizabeth P. Stevenson, American 2nd Class passenger from Cleveland, Ohio, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 33
  • Mrs. Janet M. Stevenson, Scottish 2nd Class passenger residing in Cleveland, Ohio, USA returning to Aberdeen, Scotland, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 33
USS Arizona
  • Mr. Frank Jake Stevenson, American Private 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 34
  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  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. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  5. 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.
  6. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  7. Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print
  8. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  9. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  10. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  11. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  12. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  13. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  14. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  15. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  16. 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)
  17. Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
  18. 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
  19. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 24) Albion voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1828 with 192 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/albion/1828
  20. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bussorah-merchant
  21. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
  22. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  23. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's (Retrieved October 4th 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  24. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 25) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  25. Mount Erebus, Memorial, Roll of Remembrance (Retrieved 2018, February 21st). Retrieved from http://www.erebus.co.nz/memorialandawards/rollofremembrance.aspx
  26. Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
  27. Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
  28. HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
  29. H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
  30. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
  31. 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
  32. Pan Am Flight 103's victims: A list of those killed 25 years ago | syracuse.com. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2013/12/pan_am_flight_103s_victims_a_list_of_those_killed_25_years_ago.html
  33. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
  34. 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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