Show ContentsStubbing History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Stubbing was carried to England in the enormous movement of people that followed the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Stubbing family lived in Essex having derived from the Old English word stybbing, meaning stumps, and indicates that the original bearer lived in or near an area which had been cleared of trees.

Early Origins of the Stubbing family

The surname Stubbing was first found in Essex at Stebbing, a small village in the Uttlesford district that dates back to the Domesday Book where it was listed as Stibinga and either meant "settlement of the family or followers of a man called Stybba" or "dwellers among the tree-stumps." [1] Although the Old English roots of this name suggest that they pre-date the Normans in Britain, they were also conjecturally descended from Thomas de Colunces who's son Hugh acquired the lands of Stebbing and Woodham Ferrars in Essex, containing two Mills, vines, and five beehives. Thomas was descended from the Colunces of Calvados in Normandy.

Stubbins is an industrial village in the southern part of the Rossendale Valley, Lancashire and dates back to 1563 when it was first listed as Stubbing. It literally meant "a place with tree stumps."[1]

Early History of the Stubbing family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Stubbing research. Another 59 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1611, 1647, 1687, 1728, 1735 and 1763 are included under the topic Early Stubbing History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Stubbing Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Stebbing, Stebing, Stubbings, Stubbing, Stebbings and many more.

Early Notables of the Stubbing family

Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Stubbing Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Australia Stubbing migration to Australia +

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

Stubbing Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mrs. E.T. Stubbing, who arrived in Kangaroo Island aboard the ship "Buffalo" in 1836 [2]
  • Thomas Stubbing, aged 21, a carpenter, who arrived in Kangaroo Island aboard the ship "Buffalo" in 1836 [2]

New Zealand Stubbing 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:

Stubbing Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Benjamin Stubbing, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "John Scott" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 7th March 1858 [3]
  • Mrs. Margaret Stubbing, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "John Scott" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 7th March 1858 [3]
  • Miss Margaret Stubbing, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "John Scott" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 7th March 1858 [3]
  • Mr. William Benjamin Stubbing, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "John Scott" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 7th March 1858 [3]
  • Mr. Arthur Stubbing, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "John Scott" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 7th March 1858 [3]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

HMS Cornwall
  • Alfred Henry Stubbing (d. 1942), British Canteen Manager aboard the HMS Cornwall when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he died in the sinking [4]


The Stubbing 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: Quiescam
Motto Translation: I shall rest.


  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  2. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) HMS BUFFALO 1836. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1836Buffalo.htm
  3. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  4. Force Z Survivors Crew List HMS Cornwall (Retrieved 2018, February 13th) - Retrieved from https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listcornwallcrew.html#A


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