Stockport History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Today's generation of the Stockport family bears a name that was brought to England by the migration wave that was started by the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Stockport family lived in Cheshire, at Stockport.

Early Origins of the Stockport family

The surname Stockport was first found in Cheshire where Sir Robert of Stockport was a Norman noble, son of Robert Fitz-Waltheof, Lord of Etchells, who was a tenant of the Baron of Dunham Massey. "The manor [at Etchells] was anciently in the Stockports, from whom it passed by female heirs to the Aldernes and Stanleys." 1

Over in Bootle, Lancashire the Stockport family one half of the manor with the Beetham family. "The Stockport family held the other half, and appear to have secured a share of the plough-lands. In 1275 Ellen, widow of Robert de Stockport, claimed against Roger de Stockport dower in a messuage, six oxgangs of land, 60 acres of meadow, in Bootle. However, this holding was short lived as The Stockport share was transferred before 1292 to Robert de Byron." 2

Early History of the Stockport family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Stockport research. Another 83 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1238, 1636, 1654, 1675, 1700, 1770 and 1954 are included under the topic Early Stockport History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Stockport Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years the English language had no fixed system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations occurred commonly in Anglo Norman surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Stockport were recorded, including Stockport, Stopfort, Stopford and others.

Early Notables of the Stockport family

More information is included under the topic Early Stockport Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Stockport family to Ireland

Some of the Stockport family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 60 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Stockport migration to the United States +

The unstable environment in England at this time caused numerous families to board ships and leave in search of opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad in places like Ireland, Australia, and particularly the New World. The voyage was extremely difficult, however, and only taken at great expense. The cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels caused many to arrive diseased and starving, not to mention destitute from the enormous cost. Still opportunity in the emerging nations of Canada and the United States was far greater than at home and many went on to make important contributions to the cultures of their adopted countries. An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Stockport arrived in North America very early:

Stockport Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

J. Stockport, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1740

The Stockport 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: Patriae infelici fidelis
Motto Translation: Faithful to an unhappy country.

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
'Townships: Scarisbrick', in A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 3, ed. William Farrer and J Brownbill (London, 1907), pp. 265-276. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/lancs/vol3/pp265-276 [accessed 21 January 2017].