Stuart History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  England 
  Scotland-Alt 
  Scotland 
  Ireland 


The origins the old family name Stuart can be found within medieval Scotland. While the patronymic and metronymic surnames, which are derived from the name of the father and mother respectively, are the most common form of a hereditary surname in Scotland, occupational surnames also emerged during the late Middle Ages. Many people, such as the Stuart family, adopted the name of their occupation as their surname. However, an occupational name did not become a hereditary surname until the office or type of employment became hereditary. The surname Stuart was an occupational name for a steward, the official in charge of a noble household and its treasury. One common alternate spelling of the name is a result of the influence of Mary, Queen of Scots, who was educated in France, and consequently spelled the name Steuart or Stuart.

Early Origins of the Stuart family

The surname Stuart was first found in Oswestry, Shropshire, where they had been granted lands by William the Conqueror, their liege Lord.

Early History of the Stuart family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Stuart research. Another 464 words (33 lines of text) covering the years 1230, 1316, 1371, 1390, 1591, 1608, 1634, 1643, 1645, 1676, 1681, 1683, 1688, 1701, 1714, 1726, 1735 and 1745 are included under the topic Early Stuart History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Stuart Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Stuart, Steuart, Stuard, Sturt and others.

Early Notables of the Stuart family

Notable among the family at this time was

Stuart World Ranking

In the United States, the name Stuart is the 917th most popular surname with an estimated 32,331 people with that name. 1 However, in Canada, the name Stuart is ranked the 777th most popular surname with an estimated 6,917 people with that name. 2 And in Australia, the name Stuart is the 342nd popular surname with an estimated 10,569 people with that name. 3 New Zealand ranks Stuart as 213rd with 2,678 people. 4 The United Kingdom ranks Stuart as 515th with 12,697 people. 5

Migration of the Stuart family to Ireland

Some of the Stuart family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Stuart migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Stuart Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Stuart Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Stuart Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Stuart migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Stuart Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
Stuart Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Stuart migration to Australia +

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

Stuart Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Stuart 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:

Stuart Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Stuart migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 13
Stuart Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Stuart (post 1700) +


The Stuart 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: Noblis est ira leonis
Motto Translation: The wrath of the lion is noble.


Suggested Readings for the name Stuart +
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