Show ContentsStoopfart History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Stoopfart was carried to England in the enormous movement of people that followed the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Stoopfart family lived in Cheshire, at Stockport.

Early Origins of the Stoopfart family

The surname Stoopfart was first found in Cheshire where Sir Robert of Stockport was a Norman noble, son of Robert Fitz-Waltheof, Lord of Etchells, who was a tenant of the Baron of Dunham Massey. "The manor [at Etchells] was anciently in the Stockports, from whom it passed by female heirs to the Aldernes and Stanleys." 1

Over in Bootle, Lancashire the Stockport family one half of the manor with the Beetham family. "The Stockport family held the other half, and appear to have secured a share of the plough-lands. In 1275 Ellen, widow of Robert de Stockport, claimed against Roger de Stockport dower in a messuage, six oxgangs of land, 60 acres of meadow, in Bootle. However, this holding was short lived as The Stockport share was transferred before 1292 to Robert de Byron." 2

Early History of the Stoopfart family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Stoopfart research. Another 83 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1238, 1636, 1654, 1675, 1700, 1770 and 1954 are included under the topic Early Stoopfart History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Stoopfart Spelling Variations

Multitudes of spelling variations are a hallmark of Anglo Norman names. Most of these names evolved in the 11th and 12th century, in the time after the Normans introduced their own Norman French language into a country where Old and Middle English had no spelling rules and the languages of the court were French and Latin. To make matters worse, medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, so names frequently appeared differently in the various documents in which they were recorded. The name was spelled Stockport, Stopfort, Stopford and others.

Early Notables of the Stoopfart family

More information is included under the topic Early Stoopfart Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Stoopfart family to Ireland

Some of the Stoopfart family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 60 words (4 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 Stoopfart family

Because of this political and religious unrest within English society, many people decided to immigrate to the colonies. Families left for Ireland, North America, and Australia in enormous numbers, traveling at high cost in extremely inhospitable conditions. The New World in particular was a desirable destination, but the long voyage caused many to arrive sick and starving. Those who made it, though, were welcomed by opportunities far greater than they had known at home in England. Many of these families went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Stoopfart or a variant listed above: J. Stockport landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1740; Edward Stopford settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1852.



The Stoopfart 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: Patriae infelici fidelis
Motto Translation: Faithful to an unhappy country.


  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. 'Townships: Scarisbrick', in A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 3, ed. William Farrer and J Brownbill (London, 1907), pp. 265-276. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/lancs/vol3/pp265-276 [accessed 21 January 2017].


Houseofnames.com on Facebook