Show ContentsStewart History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Stewart Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Stewart

What does the name Stewart mean?

The Stewart surname is derived from the Old English words "stigweard" or "stiweard," which meant a "guardian of the house." Thus this surname is derived from the occupation of steward. As every great house, Earl and Bishop in medieval England and Scotland had its stewards, this office has given rise to many lines of this hereditary surname.

Early Origins of the Stewart family

The surname Stewart was first found in Devon, where the first on record appears to be Rogere de Stiwerd, who lived there some time between 1100 and 1130. Other early records include an Alwinus Stiward, listed in the Domesday Book in 1148 in Winton, Hampshire; Reginald le Stiward, recorded in the Rotuli Chartarum as being in Dorset in 1205; and Martin Stewhard who is documented in the "Rotuli Hundredorum" as living in Norfolk in 1275. Ancestors of this family name first held the office of steward under the lords of Dol in Brittany in the 11th century. As a surname, Stewart was first taken on in 13th century Scotland, where Walter FitzAlan (d. 1177,) a Norman noble, was created the "Great Steward of Scotland," by King David I of Scotland. This line of Stuarts became the ruling family of Scotland with King Robert II of Scotland in 1315, and the ruling family of Britain in 1603, when James VI of Scotland came to the English throne as James I of England. Not all bearers of this name can assume royal descent however; as in both England and Scotland in the early Middle ages, most every Bishop, Earl and manor had a steward, who may have taken on the name.

Early History of the Stewart family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Stewart research. Another 93 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1230, 1316, 1575, 1591, 1615, 1643, 1645, 1726 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Stewart History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Stewart Spelling Variations

A multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Steward, Stewart, Stuart, Steuart and others.

Early Notables of the Stewart family

  • Lady Arbella Stuart (Arabella and/or Stewart) (1575-1615), a noblewoman who was considered a possible successor to Queen Elizabeth I of England
  • Adam Steuart (Stuart, Stewart) (1591-1645) was a Scottish philosopher and controversialist

Stewart World Ranking

the United States, the name Stewart is the 51st most popular surname with an estimated 330,771 people with that name. 1 However, in Canada, the name Stewart is ranked the 27th most popular surname with an estimated 50,758 people with that name. 2 And in Quebec, Canada, the name Stewart is the 909th popular surname. 3 Newfoundland, Canada ranks Stewart as 632nd with 71 people. 4 Australia ranks Stewart as 35th with 46,244 people. 5 New Zealand ranks Stewart as 20th with 6,108 people. 6 The United Kingdom ranks Stewart as 61st with 72,015 people. 7 South Africa ranks Stewart as 922nd with 7,582 people. 8

Migration of the Stewart family to Ireland

Some of the Stewart family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 62 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Stewart migration to the United States +

Many English families left England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Stewart or a variant listed above:

Stewart Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Austin Stewart, who settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1651
  • Austin Stewart in Boston in 1651
  • Charles Stewart, a Royalist soldier captured at Worcester, sent to Boston aboard the "John and Sara" in 1652
  • Austin Stewart, who landed in America in 1652 10
  • Cha Stewart, who landed in America in 1652 10
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Stewart Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Margaret Stewart, who landed in Virginia in 1705 10
  • Malcom Stewart, who arrived in Virginia in 1716 10
  • Alexander Stewart, a Jacobite captured at Preston, was among Thomase banished to the plantations, transported from Liverpool to South Carolina aboard the "Susannah" in 1716
  • Jamaica Stewart, who arrived in America in 1724 10
  • Don Stewart, who arrived in Georgia in 1738 10
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Stewart Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Griselda Stewart, who arrived in New York in 1801 10
  • Peter Stewart, who arrived in New York in 1802 10
  • Agness Stewart, aged 20, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1803 10
  • Thomas Stewart, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1803 10
  • Anne Stewart, aged 18, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1804 10
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Stewart Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Alexander McIntosh Stewart, who arrived in Mississippi in 1906 10

Stewart migration to Canada +

Stewart Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century
  • Sir James Stewart of Killeith, 4th Lord Ochiltree, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1629
Stewart Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Hugh Stewart, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
  • Danl Stewart, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749
  • Daniel Stewart, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1749-1752
  • Andrew Stewart, a settler who came with Governor Cornwallis to Chebucto, Nova Scotia in June 1749
  • Andrew Stewart, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Stewart Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Margaret Stewart, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1801
  • Alex Stewart, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1801
  • James Stewart, aged 37, who arrived in Pictou, Nova Scotia in 1803
  • James Stewart, aged 37, a farmer, who arrived in Pictou, Nova Scotia aboard the ship "Commerce" in 1803
  • Janet Stewart, aged 37, who arrived in Pictou, Nova Scotia aboard the ship "Commerce" in 1803
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Stewart migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia included the First Fleet, Second Fleet and Third Fleet of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

First Fleet
  • Mr. John Stewart, (Hainsworth), (1760 - 1790), aged 29, British settler convicted at Buckinghamshire, England in 1788, sentenced to 14 years for felony, transported aboard the ship "Neptune" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 9
  • Miss Mary Stewart, (b. 1763), aged 24, British settler convicted in Middlesex, England in 1787, sentenced to 7 years for stealing a watch, transported aboard the ship "Lady Juliana" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 10
  • Miss Susannah Stewart, (b. 1763), aged 25, British settler convicted in Middlesex, England in 1788, sentenced to 7 years for theft, transported aboard the ship "Lady Juliana" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 10
Second Fleet
  • Mr. Charles Stewart, British settler convicted in Middlesex, England in 1787, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Albermarle" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 10
  • Mr. James Stewart, British settler convicted in Middlesex, England in 1789, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Active" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 10
Third Fleet
  • Mr. James Stewart, (b. 1757), aged 30, English settler convicted in London on 21st April 1784, sentenced for 7 years for theft, transported aboard the ship "Scarborough" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788 10
  • Miss Margaret Stewart, (b. 1762), aged 25, English settler convicted in Exeter, Devon on 28th August 1786, sentenced for 7 years for theft, transported aboard the ship "Lady Penrhyn" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788 10
Following the First, Second and Third Fleets, other convicts and early settlers arriving in Australia include:

Stewart Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Michael Stewart, (Seyman, Seymour, Robert), British convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life, transported aboard the "Calcutta" in February 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
  • Mr.Alexander Stewart, British settler who was convicted in La Valette, Malta for life for assault, transported aboard the "Fortune" on 31st October 1812, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
  • Mr. Thomas Stewart, British Convict who was convicted in Glasgow, Scotland for life, transported aboard the "Earl Spencer" in May 1813, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 13
  • Miss Jane Stewart, (b. 1786), aged 27, Irish convict who was convicted in Kilkenny, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Catherine" on 8th December 1813, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 14
  • Mr. James Stewart, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Baring" in December 1818, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 15
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Stewart 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:

Stewart Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • A Stewart, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1840
  • Mr. John Stewart, (b. 1815), aged 25, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Slains Castle" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 25th January 1841 16
  • Alexander Stewart, aged 19, a baker, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Lady Nugent" in 1841
  • William Stewart, aged 26, a farmer, who arrived in New Plymouth aboard the ship "Phoebe Dunbar" between 1841 and 1850
  • J. Stewart, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Indemnity" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 19th July 1842 17
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Stewart 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. 18
Stewart Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • Agnes Stewart, who arrived in Barbados in 1663

Contemporary Notables of the name Stewart (post 1700) +

  • James Maitland "Jimmy" Stewart (1908-1997), American five-time Academy Award nominated actor, recipient of one award and a Lifetime Achievement award and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. With the United States Air Force, he rose to the rank of Brigadier General
  • Sylvester Stewart (1943-2025), stage name Sly Stone, American musician, songwriter, and record producer, frontman of Sly and the Family Stone, playing a critical role in the development of funk with his pioneering fusion of soul, rock, psychedelia, and gospel in the 1960s and 1970s
  • Julius LeBlanc Stewart (1855-1919), American artist who spent his career in Paris
  • Lynne Marie Stewart (1946-2025), American actress, widely known for her performance as Miss Yvonne, "the Most Beautiful Woman in Puppet Land", originated the role in the 1981 stage show The Pee-wee Herman Show
  • Harry Thaddeus Stewart Jr. (1924-2025), American Army Air Forces, Distinguished Flying Cross recipient who served in the 332nd Fighter Group, the all–African American Tuskegee Airmen
  • Ellen Stewart (1919-2011), American theatre director and producer and the founder of La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club
  • Hugh Stewart (1928-2024), American former tennis player, inducted into the Southern California Tennis Association (SCTA) Hall of Fame in 2011
  • Alice Elizabeth Stewart (1966-2024), American communications director who worked on five Republican presidential campaigns before joining CNN as a commentator
  • Vincent Raymond Stewart (1958-2023), Jamaican-born, American lieutenant general in the United States Marine Corps, Deputy Commander at United States Cyber Command
  • ... (Another 68 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Air New Zealand Flight 901
  • Mr. Donald Mathew Stewart (1944-1979), New Zealander passenger, from Birkenhead, Auckland, 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 19
  • Mr. Randy S Stewart (1964-1985), American Sergeant from Texarkana, Arkansas, USA who died in the Arrow Air Flight 1285 crash 20
  • James Stewart (d. 1943), Australian Private who died aboard the ship "Centaur" an Australian hospital ship when torpedoed on 14th May 1943
  • Miss Marguerite  Stewart (1908-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 21
  • Mrs. Emma Stewart (1855-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 22
  • ... (Another 29 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  3. "The first 1,000 family names by rank, Quebec (in French only)" Institut de la statistique du Quebec, https://statistique.quebec.ca/en/document/family-names-in-quebec/tableau/the-first-1000-family-names-by-rank-quebec
  4. 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)
  5. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  6. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  7. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  8. "Most Common Last Names in South Africa." Forebears, https://forebears.io/south-africa/surnames
  9. Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships
  10. 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)
  11. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/calcutta
  12. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th October 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au
  13. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 8th September 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-spencer
  14. Convict Records of Australia (Retreived 2nd January 2021, retreived from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/catherine
  15. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
  16. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  17. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  18. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  19. Mount Erebus, Memorial, Roll of Remembrance (Retrieved 2018, February 21st). Retrieved from http://www.erebus.co.nz/memorialandawards/rollofremembrance.aspx
  20. American War Memorials - Flight 1285. (Retrieved 2016, August 24) . Retrieved from http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/monument_details.php?SiteID=317&MemID=550
  21. 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

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