Steffany History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Steffany is a name that first reached England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Steffany family lived in Pembrokeshire which is derived from the Old English word Stybbanhyp, meaning the dweller by the landing place.

Early Origins of the Steffany family

The surname Steffany was first found in Pembrokeshire at Prendergast. Alternatively, the name could have derived from Stepney, which is today a district of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in London's East End. The place dates back to c. 1000 where is was listed as Stybbanhythe and later in the Domesday Book it was listed as Stibanhede. In this latter case, the place name meant "landing place of a man called Stybba." 1

Early History of the Steffany family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Steffany research. Another 76 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1618, 1621, 1640, 1643, 1663, 1676 and 1707 are included under the topic Early Steffany History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Steffany Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, Anglo-Norman surnames like Steffany are characterized by many spelling variations. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages such as Norman French and Latin, even literate people regularly changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Steffany include Stepney, Stepny, Stepnie and others.

Early Notables of the Steffany family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir John Stepney, 1st Baronet; Sir John Stepney, 3rd Baronet (1618-ca.1676), a Welsh politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1640 to 1643, supporter of the Royalist side in the English Civil War; and George Stepney...
Another 46 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Steffany Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Steffany family to Ireland

Some of the Steffany family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 34 words (2 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 Steffany family

Faced with the chaos present in England at that time, many English families looked towards the open frontiers of the New World with its opportunities to escape oppression and starvation. People migrated to North America, as well as Australia and Ireland in droves, paying exorbitant rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, but those who did see the shores of North America were welcomed with great opportunity. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America carried the name Steffany, or a variant listed above: Thomas Stepney who settled in Virginia in 1610; ten years before the "Mayflower"; followed by Thomas in 1624; and Samuell in 1670; John Stepney settled in Baltimore Maryland in 1775.

Contemporary Notables of the name Steffany (post 1700) +

Steffany Huckaby, American actress, best known for her role as Beth in the television series, Greek

The Steffany 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: Fide et vigilantia
Motto Translation: By faith and vigilance.