Steptoe History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The name Steptoe is of Anglo-Saxon origin. It was name for a person who "treads lightly" 1 or may refer "[to a person's] gait." 2
Early Origins of the Steptoe family
The surname Steptoe was first found in various counties and shires throughout England. Early records of the name were very scarce yet one source claims that John Stepsoft who was listed in 1260 as a probable ancestor. 1
Many years later, William Steptoe was listed in the Hearth Tax Returns for Oxfordshire in 1665 and in 1674, John Steptoe was listed in the Hearth Tax Rolls for Suffolk. 1 One branch of the family was established in Middlesex as Anthony Steptoe immigrated to America from there in 1676.
Early History of the Steptoe family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Steptoe research. Another 51 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1751, 1753, 1788 and 1802 are included under the topic Early Steptoe History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Steptoe Spelling Variations
Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Steptoe have been found, including Stepto, Steptoe, Steptow, Steptowe and others.
Early Notables of the Steptoe family
Distinguished members of the family include
- the Steptoe family of Middlesex...
- Steptoe and Son is a British sitcom about a father-and-son rag-and-bone business...
Steptoe Ranking
In the United States, the name Steptoe is the 12,310th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 3
Steptoe migration to the United States +
Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become powerful new nations. Among early immigrants of the Steptoe surname to cross the Atlantic and come to North America were:
Steptoe Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
- Anthony Steptoe (1653-1709) born in Middlesex, England who immigrated to Lancaster County, Virginia in 1676
- Kingsmale Steptoe, who landed in Maryland in 1679 4
- Penelope Steptoe, who landed in Maryland in 1679 4
Steptoe Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
- John Steptoe (c. 1673-1719) born in Middlesex, England who immigrated to Lancaster County, Virginia c. 1705
Steptoe migration to Australia +
Emigration to
Australia followed the
First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:
Steptoe Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
- John Steptoe, English convict from Middlesex, who was transported aboard the "Argyle" on March 5th, 1831, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 5
Contemporary Notables of the name Steptoe (post 1700) +
- Syndric Marquis Steptoe (b. 1984), American former NFL football wide receiver who played from 2007 to 2012
- Philip Steptoe, American co-founder of Steptoe & Johnson LLP, an international law firm based in Washington DC in 1945
- Lamont B Steptoe (b. 1949), American poet, photographer and publisher in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- John Lewis Steptoe (b. 1950), American creator of award-winning picture books for children dealing with aspects of the African-American experience
- Edward Jenner Steptoe (1816-1865), United States Army Lieutenant Colonel who served in the Mexican-American War and the Indian Wars, eponym of Steptoe Butte State Park and Steptoe Battlefield State Park, Washington
- Robert M. Steptoe (b. 1920), American Democratic Party politician, Member of West Virginia State House of Delegates, 1963-68, 1971-72; Defeated, 1968; Member of West Virginia State Senate 16th District, 1975-82 6
- Roger Steptoe (b. 1953), English composer, pianist and professor at the Royal Academy of Music, London
- Patrick Christopher Steptoe CBE FRS (1913-1988), British obstetrician and gynecologist and a pioneer of fertility treatment; had he lived until 2010, he would have been a co-recipient of the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
- Steptoe Catlin, American politician, Postmaster at Madison, Wisconsin, 1844-45 7
Historic Events for the Steptoe family +
- Mr. John H Steptoe (b. 1922), English Marine serving for the Royal Marine from Hambledon, Buckinghamshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 8
Citations +
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- 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)
- State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2015, January 8) Argyle voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1831 with 251 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/argyle/1831
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 6) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 20) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
- H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm