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Show ContentsStephenson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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This scripture name, like many others, was not introduced here until the Norman Conquest, after which we find it in the form of Fitz-Stephen. It occupies a large place among our surnames in the usual genitive forms of Stephens. Stevens, Steevens, Stephenson, Stevenson, &c. A nicked or abbreviated form furnishes us with our Steen, Steenson, Stimson, Stimpson, Stinson, Stibbs: perhaps also Stubbs, Steff, Stiff, and Stennett. Tiffany and Tiffin, from Stephanus, belong to the same category. 1

"This name was introduced into Britain by the Normans, with whom it was a favorite. Although found occasionally in England before 1066 its use then was due really to Christian tradition, Stephen (Stephanos) having been the first Christian martyr after Christ." 2

Early Origins of the Stephenson family

The surname Stephenson was first found in Essex where Adam Steveneson was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of 1327. Later, John Stephenson was listed at Whitby, Yorkshire in 1395. 3 The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 included an entry for Thomas Stevenson. 4

In Somerset, we found the truncated entries for Philip Stevene; and William Stevene, Somerset, 1 Edward III (during the first year of the reign of King Edward III.) 5

"The present family of Stimpson may possess an ancestor in John Stimpson, who lived at Burston, in Diss, in 1742." 6 John Stimpson from Norwich, Norfolk was listed there in 1742. 7

The first record of the Stinson variant was found in Yorkshire where Corpus Christi Guild (Surtees Society) listed Joseph Stinson, but no date was given. Welford's History of Newcastle and Gateshead records "in a muster-roll of able-bodied men at Newcastle-on-Tyne in 1539 occur the names of: Edward Stynson; Stewyn Sotheron; Allen Stewenson; and John Stewynsone. 8

Early History of the Stephenson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Stephenson research. Another 180 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1150, 1296, 1455, 1552, 1581, 1583, 1584, 1585, 1624, 1654, 1685, 1742, 1764, 1833 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Stephenson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Stephenson Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Stevenson, Stephenson, Stephinson, Stevenston, Steenson, Stenson, Steinson and many more.

Early Notables of the Stephenson family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was

  • Thomas Stephenson (1552-1624), English Jesuit, born in 1552 of Catholic parents at Windlestone in the parish of St. Andrews, Auckland, Durham. He studied his humanities in England, and went through th...

Stephenson World Ranking

In the United States, the name Stephenson is the 643rd most popular surname with an estimated 44,766 people with that name. 9 However, in Canada, the name Stephenson is ranked the 687th most popular surname with an estimated 7,604 people with that name. 10 And in Australia, the name Stephenson is the 316th popular surname with an estimated 11,160 people with that name. 11 New Zealand ranks Stephenson as 419th with 1,579 people. 12 The United Kingdom ranks Stephenson as 253rd with 23,619 people. 13

Ireland Migration of the Stephenson family to Ireland

Some of the Stephenson family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 186 words (13 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

United States Stephenson migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Stephenson Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Ann Stephenson, who arrived in Virginia in 1636 14
  • Christian and Anne Stephenson, who settled in Virginia in 1637
  • John Stephenson, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1645 14
  • Christopher Stephenson, who arrived in Maryland in 1654 14
  • Frances Stephenson, who landed in Maryland in 1654 14
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Stephenson Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Daniel Stephenson, who landed in America in 1764 14
  • Nancy Stephenson, who arrived in South Carolina in 1772 14
  • Thomas Stephenson, who settled in Maryland in 1774
  • Stephen Stephenson, who landed in Mississippi in 1798 14
Stephenson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Margaret Stephenson, aged 22, who arrived in New Castle or Philadelphia in 1804 14
  • Charles Stephenson, aged 29, who landed in New Castle or Philadelphia in 1804 14
  • Henry Stephenson, who landed in New York, NY in 1811 14
  • Hugh Stephenson, who landed in New York in 1812 14
  • Isaac Stephenson, who landed in New York in 1812 14
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Stephenson migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Stephenson Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Joseph Stephenson who settled in Argentia, in Newfoundland, in 1730 15
  • Capt. Francis Stephenson U.E. who settled in Home District [Niagara], Ontario c. 1786 he served in the Queens Rangers 16
Stephenson Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Joseph Stephenson, aged 18, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "Dorcas Savage" from Belfast, Ireland
  • Sarah Stephenson, aged 15, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Ambassador" in 1834
  • Diana Stephenson, aged 18, who arrived in Quebec in 1834
  • Ebenezer W Stephenson, who landed in Canada in 1836
Stephenson Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
  • W Stephenson, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1907

Australia Stephenson migration to Australia +

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

Stephenson Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Stephenson, English convict who was convicted in York, Yorkshire, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Duke of Portland" in January 1807, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 17
  • Mr. William Stephenson, British Convict who was convicted in Durham, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" on 11th August 1820, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 18
  • Mr. John Stephenson, British soldier who was convicted in India, transported aboard the "Cawdry" in 1826, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 19
  • Mr. James Stephenson(b. 1804), aged 22, Cornish settler convicted in Cornwall, UK on 3rd July 1826, sentenced for 14 years for larceny, transported aboard the ship "Midas" on 16th October 1826 to New South Wales, Australia 20
  • Mr. John Stephenson, English convict who was convicted in Durham, England for life, transported aboard the "Florentia" on 14th August 1827, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 21
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Stephenson 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:

Stephenson Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • S Stephenson, who landed in Bay of Islands, New Zealand in 1834 aboard the ship Fortitude
  • Timothy Stephenson, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
  • William Stephenson, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1844
  • D Stephenson, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Norman Morrison" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand, Via Wellington and Lyttleton in 1854 22
  • Mrs.Stephenson, Australian settler travelling from Hobart, Tasmania, Australia aboard the ship "Bonnie Doon" arriving in New Zealand in 1854 22
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Stephenson (post 1700) +

  • Riggs Stephenson (1898-1985), born Jackson Riggs Stephenson, American MLB left fielder, nicknamed Old Hoss
  • Robert Lloyd "Bob" Stephenson (1928-2020), American MLB player for the St. Louis Cardinals (1955)
  • John Winfield Stephenson (1923-2015), American actor, most active in voice-over roles, best known for his work on The Hobbit (1977), Charlotte's Web (1973) and The Flintstones (1960)
  • Samuel M. Stephenson (1803-1859), U.S. politician from Michigan
  • Neal Town Stephenson (b. 1959), American Hugo Award winning writer known primarily for his science fiction works
  • Jean Stephenson, award-winning California artist and teacher 23
  • Earl Stephenson (b. 1947), American former Major League Baseball pitcher
  • Benjamin Stephenson (b. 1822), American politician, Delegate to Illinois State Constitutional Convention from Madison County, 1818
  • Barbara Stephenson, American politician, U.S. Consul General in Belfast, 2001-04
  • Anne Stephenson, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Arizona, 2008
  • ... (Another 75 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
HMAS Sydney II
  • Mr. Walter Thomas William Stephenson (1920-1941), Australian Stoker from Bagdad, Tasmania, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 24
HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. R Stephenson, British Ship Write, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 25
HMS Royal Oak
  • John George Stephenson (1918-1939), British Able Seaman with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 26
RMS Titanic
  • Mrs. Martha Stephenson, (née Eustis), aged 52, French First Class passenger from Paris, France who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking escaping in life boat 4 27
USS Arizona
  • Mr. Hugh Donald Stephenson, American Seaman First Class from New York, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 28
  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  5. Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
  6. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  7. Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print
  8. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  9. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  10. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  11. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  12. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  13. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  14. 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)
  15. Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
  16. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  17. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/duke-of-portland
  18. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
  19. Convict Records of Australia. Retreived 13th January 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/cawdry
  20. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 30th May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_convicts.pdf
  21. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th October 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/florentia
  22. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  23. Jean Stephenson. (Retrieved 2010, September 27) Jean Stephenson. Retrieved from http://jeanstephenson.com/
  24. HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
  25. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
  26. Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
  27. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
  28. Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html
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