Stilingfleet History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Stilingfleet reached England in the great wave of migration following the Norman Conquest of 1066. It is based on the Norman name Steflingefled.

Early Origins of the Stilingfleet family

The surname Stilingfleet was first found in Yorkshire at Stillingfleet, a village and civil parish in the Selby district of North Yorkshire. The place dates back at least The Domesday Book where it was listed as Steflingefled from the Old English personal name + inga + fleot and literally meant "stretch of river belonging to the family or followers of a man called Styfel." 1

Early History of the Stilingfleet family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Stilingfleet research. Another 109 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1466, 1491, 1635, 1689 and 1699 are included under the topic Early Stilingfleet History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Stilingfleet 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. Stilingfleet has been recorded under many different variations, including Stillington, Stillingfleet and others.

Early Notables of the Stilingfleet family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Robert Stillington (d. 1491), Bishop of Bath and Wells, and Lord Chancellor, the son of John Stillington, who held property at Nether Acaster, near York. Edward Stillingfleet (1635-1699), was a British theologian and scholar from Cranborne...
Another 43 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Stilingfleet Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Stilingfleet 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. Stilingfleets were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America: Silvester Stillingfleet who settled in Jamaica in 1684.

The Stilingfleet 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: Magna est veritas
Motto Translation: Great is truth.

Citations +

Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)