Stonhouse History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Stonhouse family

The surname Stonhouse was first found in Gloucestershire at Stonehouse, a parish, in the union of Stroud, Lower division of the hundred of Whitstone. 1 2 This is presumed to be the oldest at it is listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Stanhus. 3

However, East Stonehouse (commonly called Stonehouse), a town and parish, forming a union of itself, in the borough of Devonport, and suburbs of Plymouth, Roborough and S. divisions of Devon may arguably be of the same vintage. "This place, originally called Hipperston, was in the reign of Henry III. the property of Joel de Stonehouse, from whom it derives its present name." 1 The hamlet of West Stonehouse stood on the opposite shore of the harbour, near Cremill, and Mount Edgcumbe, until burnt by the French, some centuries ago.

"The manor came to a family named thence of Stonehouse, and from them it passed by marriage to the Durnfords." 4 No dates were given for this record, but we do know that the manor was originally held by Robert the Bastard at the date of the compilation of 'Domesday' and had passed on to the Stonehouse family from him. 4

As far as early rolls are concerned, John de Stonhus, Gloucestershire was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 and John del Stonhuse, was listed in the Close Rolls, 47 Henry III (during the 47th year of King Henry III's reign.) 5

Another source notes Alexander de Stonhuse was listed in Cheshire in 1257; Ranulf del Stonhouse in the Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire in 1332; and Henry atte Stonehouse in Surrey in 1359. 6

As one would imagine, the name literally means "Dweller at the Stone House [Old English stán + hús]" 7

Early History of the Stonhouse family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Stonhouse research. Another 88 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1350, 1603, 1639, 1640, 1641, 1644, 1675, 1689, 1690 and 1700 are included under the topic Early Stonhouse History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Stonhouse Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Stonehouse, Stonhouse and others.

Early Notables of the Stonhouse family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

Sir William Stonhouse, 1st Baronet of Radley
Sir John Stonhouse, 2nd Baronet (1639- 1700), an English politician, Member of Parliament for Abingdon (1675-1689) and in 1690
Sir George Stonhouse, 3rd Baronet (1603-1675), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1640 to 1644, supporter of the Royalists during the English Civil War

Stonhouse migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Stonhouse Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

William Stonhouse, aged 43, who landed in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Thomas & John" 8

Stonhouse Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Robert Stonhouse, who arrived in New England in 1716 8

Contemporary Notables of the name Stonhouse (post 1700) +

Major General Philip Le Marchant Stonhouse, CBE

The Stonhouse 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: Sublimiora petamus
Motto Translation: Let us seek higher things.

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Worth, R.N., A History of Devonshire London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.G., 1895. Digital
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
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
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)