Stabley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Stabley is a name of ancient Norman origin. It arrived in England with the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Stabley family lived in Somerset. Their name, however, is a reference to Estaples, Normandy. Etaples is a small seaport on the French coast about 10 miles from Boulogne. Alternatively, the name could have been an occupational name for someone who works in a stable, or someone who lives near a stable. 1

Early Origins of the Stabley family

The surname Stabley was first found in Somerset where one of the first records of the family was Robert del Estable who was listed there in the Assize Rolls of 1270. Walter de la Stable was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275 and later Robert atte Stable was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327. 2 Staple Fitzpaine dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 and at that time was a small hamlet having a Mill and 100 goats. The original name of this hamlet was Estapla. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list the following: Alan le Stabler in Cambridgeshire; William le Stabler in Huntingdonshire; and Thomas le Stabeler in Lincolnshire. 1

Early History of the Stabley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Stabley research. Another 182 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1196, 1257, 1270, 1275, 1327, 1432, 1460 and 1468 are included under the topic Early Stabley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Stabley 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 Stable, Stapler, Stables, Stabler, Stabyl, Stabil, Stabils, Stibils, Stibles and many more.

Early Notables of the Stabley family

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

Stabley migration to Australia +

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

Stabley Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Leonard Stabley, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Orleana" in 1839 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Stabley (post 1700) +

Robert L. Stabley, American Democratic Party politician, Postmaster at Williamsport, Pennsylvania, 1963 (acting, 1963) 4

Citations +

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)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) ORLEANA 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Orleana.htm
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, April 29) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html