Show ContentsStubben History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Stubben is an ancient Norman name that arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Stubben family lived in Essex having derived from the Old English word stybbing, meaning stumps, and indicates that the original bearer lived in or near an area which had been cleared of trees.

Early Origins of the Stubben family

The surname Stubben was first found in Essex at Stebbing, a small village in the Uttlesford district that dates back to the Domesday Book where it was listed as Stibinga and either meant "settlement of the family or followers of a man called Stybba" or "dwellers among the tree-stumps." 1 Although the Old English roots of this name suggest that they pre-date the Normans in Britain, they were also conjecturally descended from Thomas de Colunces who's son Hugh acquired the lands of Stebbing and Woodham Ferrars in Essex, containing two Mills, vines, and five beehives. Thomas was descended from the Colunces of Calvados in Normandy.

Stubbins is an industrial village in the southern part of the Rossendale Valley, Lancashire and dates back to 1563 when it was first listed as Stubbing. It literally meant "a place with tree stumps."1

Early History of the Stubben family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Stubben research. Another 59 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1611, 1647, 1687, 1728, 1735 and 1763 are included under the topic Early Stubben History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Stubben Spelling Variations

Norman surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are largely due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England, as well as the official court languages of Latin and French, also had pronounced influences on the spelling of surnames. Since medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings. The name has been spelled Stebbing, Stebing, Stubbings, Stubbing, Stebbings and many more.

Early Notables of the Stubben family

Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Stubben Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Stubben family

Many English families emigrated to North American colonies in order to escape the political chaos in Britain at this time. Unfortunately, many English families made the trip to the New World under extremely harsh conditions. Overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the stormy Atlantic. Despite these hardships, many of the families prospered and went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the United States and Canada. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Stubben or a variant listed above: Edward Stebbing, who came to Cambridge Massachusetts in 1633, and was one of the founders of Hartford, CT; John, Rowland, Sarah, Thomas and Elizabeth Stebbins, who all arrived in New England in 1634.



The Stubben 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: Quiescam
Motto Translation: I shall rest.


  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)


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