Show ContentsStimpson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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 Stimpson family

The surname Stimpson 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 Stimpson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Stimpson 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 Stimpson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Stimpson Spelling Variations

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

Early Notables of the Stimpson 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 the higher course at the English College of Douay, then temporarily settled at Rheims, where he arrived on 22 June 1581. He was ordained priest there on 21 Dec. 1581, and was sent to the English mission on 13 April...
Another 79 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Stimpson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Stimpson Ranking

In the United States, the name Stimpson is the 10,151st most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. [9]

Ireland Migration of the Stimpson family to Ireland

Some of the Stimpson 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 Stimpson migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Stimpson Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Stimpson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • G E Stimpson, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1850 [10]

Australia Stimpson migration to Australia +

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

Stimpson Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Barnard Stimpson, (b. 1819), aged 14, English grocery's boy who was convicted in Berkshire, England for 14 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Fairlie" on 14th October 1833, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1897 [11]
  • Mr. Robert Stimpson, English convict who was convicted in Norfolk, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Eden" on 27th August 1836, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) [12]

New Zealand Stimpson 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:

Stimpson Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Henry Stimpson, aged 23, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Waitangi" in 1874
  • Rebecca Stimpson, aged 56, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Waitangi" in 1874
  • Eliza Stimpson, aged 25, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Waitangi" in 1874
  • Louisa Stimpson, aged 19, a housemaid, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Waitangi" in 1874
  • Florence Stimpson, aged 2, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Waitangi" in 1874

Contemporary Notables of the name Stimpson (post 1700) +

  • Charles R. Stimpson (1919-1983), United States Navy fighter ace in the Second World War
  • William Stimpson (1832-1872), noted American scientist
  • Charles R. Stimpson, American fighter pilot and flying ace in the U.S. Navy, during World War II, credited with 16 aerial victories
  • Thomas Stimpson, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Iowa State House of Representatives from Jones County, 1950 [13]
  • T. E. Stimpson, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Iowa State Senate 23rd District, 1948 [13]
  • Pleasant H. Stimpson, American politician, Member of North Carolina State House of Representatives from Forsyth County, 1909-12 [13]
  • Harry Farnum Stimpson Jr. (b. 1913), American Republican politician, U.S. Ambassador to Paraguay, 1959-61; Candidate for U.S. Representative from Massachusetts 11th District, 1962 [13]
  • Dorothy S. Stimpson, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Idaho, 2000 [13]
  • Daniel Howard Stimpson (b. 1939), American politician, U.S. Ambassador to Central African Republic, 1989 [13]
  • Barrie George Stimpson (b. 1964), English former professional footballer and current non-league manager
  • ... (Another 6 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  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. 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)
  11. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 21st September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
  12. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th October 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eden
  13. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 17) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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