Steun History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Etymology of Steun

What does the name Steun mean?

The earliest origins of the family name Steun date back to the Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It was a name given to a stern person. The surname Steun is derived from the Old English word styrne, which means severe, strict, uncompromising, and austere. 1 2

Early Origins of the Steun family

The surname Steun was first found in Cambridgeshire where Henry Sterne and Aubn Sterne was recorded in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. 3 Later, Haney Sterne was listed in Norfolk in 1460. 4

Early History of the Steun family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Steun research. Another 57 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1592, 1596, 1607, 1624, 1642, 1643, 1660, 1664, 1669, 1683, 1700, 1713, 1745, 1759 and 1768 are included under the topic Early Steun History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Steun Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Steun include Sterne, Stern, Stearn, Stearns and others.

Early Notables of the Steun family

John Sterne, Bishop of Colchester in 1592 who held the post until his death in 1607; and Richard Sterne (c. 1596-1683), English Church of England priest, Bishop of Carlisle in 1660, Archbishop of York from 1664 to 1683. He was the alleged author of the 'Whole Duty of Man.' 5 "On the outbreak of the civil war, Sterne zealously adopted the royalist cause, and in August 1642 he arranged for the despatch of large quantities of college plate to the king. Cromwell, however, who, as one of the burgesses of Cambridge, was engaged in securing that town for parliament, had Sterne...
Another 146 words (10 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Steun Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Steun family to Ireland

Some of the Steun family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 174 words (12 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 Steun family

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants: Abigail and Mary Stearns settled in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630; Isaac Stearns, his wife Mary, his son and four daughters settled in Massachusetts in 1630.

Sources +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print