| ![Show Contents]() Stonard History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
England
Etymology of StonardWhat does the name Stonard mean? Stonard is one of the names carried to England in the great wave of migration from Normandy following the Norman Conquest in 1066. It is based on the Old English personal name Stanehard, meaning stone hard. Early Origins of the Stonard familyThe surname Stonard was first found in Suffolk where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. After the Battle of Hastings in 1066, William, Duke of Normandy, having prevailed over King Harold, granted most of Britain to his many victorious Barons. It was not uncommon to find a Baron, or a Bishop, with 60 or more Lordships scattered throughout the country. These he gave to his sons, nephews and other junior lines of his family and they became known as under-tenants. They adopted the Norman system of surnames which identified the under-tenant with his holdings so as to distinguish him from the senior stem of the family. After many rebellious wars between his Barons, Duke William, commissioned a census of all England to determine in 1086, settling once and for all, who held which land. He called the census the Domesday Book, 1 indicating that those holders registered would hold the land until the end of time. Hence, Stanard, Stannard, Stanhard, Stanhert all appear in the Domesday Book as tenants of properties in Bury St Edmunds. 34 Knights were registered to the town. Early History of the Stonard familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Stonard research. Another 124 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1222, 1327 and 1450 are included under the topic Early Stonard History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Stonard Spelling VariationsSpelling variations in names were a common occurrence in the eras before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate regularly changed the spellings of their names as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Stonard have been found, including Stannard, Stanard, Stanhert, Stanart, Stanhart, Stonhard, Stonnard, Stonard, Stonerd, Stannert and many more. Early Notables of the Stonard familyMore information is included under the topic Early Stonard Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Stonard familyFor many English families, the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. For such families, the shores of Ireland, Australia, and the New World beckoned. They left their homeland at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. Many arrived after the long voyage sick, starving, and without a penny. But even those were greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. Numerous English settlers who arrived in the United States and Canada at this time went on to make important contributions to the developing cultures of those countries. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Stonard were among those contributors: William Stannerd settled in Virginia in 1652; Joseph Stannard settled in Virginia in 1695; Thomas Stannard settled in Nova Scotia in 1750; Lewis Stannert settled in Pennsylvania in 1771.
- Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
 |
