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![Show Contents]() Stepnay History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The name Stepnay came to England with the ancestors of the Stepnay family in the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Stepnay family lived in Pembrokeshire which is derived from the Old English word Stybbanhyp, meaning the dweller by the landing place. Early Origins of the Stepnay familyThe surname Stepnay 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 Stepnay familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Stepnay 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 Stepnay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Stepnay Spelling VariationsMultitudes of spelling variations are a hallmark of Anglo Norman names. Most of these names evolved in the 11th and 12th century, in the time after the Normans introduced their own Norman French language into a country where Old and Middle English had no spelling rules and the languages of the court were French and Latin. To make matters worse, medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, so names frequently appeared differently in the various documents in which they were recorded. The name was spelled Stepney, Stepny, Stepnie and others. Early Notables of the Stepnay familyOutstanding 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 Stepnay Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.  Migration of the Stepnay family to Ireland
Some of the Stepnay 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 Stepnay familyBecause of this political and religious unrest within English society, many people decided to immigrate to the colonies. Families left for Ireland, North America, and Australia in enormous numbers, traveling at high cost in extremely inhospitable conditions. The New World in particular was a desirable destination, but the long voyage caused many to arrive sick and starving. Those who made it, though, were welcomed by opportunities far greater than they had known at home in England. Many of these families went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Stepnay 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.
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.
- Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
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England
Ireland
