Stevens History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

Etymology of Stevens

What does the name Stevens mean?

Stevens is one of the many names that the Normans brought with them when they conquered England in 1066. The name Stevens came from the ancient personal name Stephen, meaning crown, wreath, or garland.

"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." 1

"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." 2

Early Origins of the Stevens family

The surname Stevens was first found in Gloucestershire where they were descended from FitzStephen, a Breton knight who was conjecturally descended from Count Stephen of Brittany and accompanied William the Conqueror into England and fought at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Stephen FitzAirard was the captain of the "Mora," the ship which brought William the Conqueror over from Normandy. His son, Thomas FitzStephen (died 1120) was captain of the ill-fated White Ship (la Blanche-Nef), which sank off Barfleur, Normandy, on 25 November 1120.

There was of course, King Stephen (c. 1097-1154,) King of England (1135-1154); he was the son of Stephen, Count of Blois and Chartres. Robert FitzStephen (d.1183) was a Welsh soldier of Norman descent and one of the leaders of the Norman invasion of Ireland.

William Fitzstephen (fitz Stephen) (died c. 1191) was a cleric and administrator in the service of Thomas Becket.

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed Gilbert filius Stephani, Lincolnshire; Jordan filius Stephani, Essex; and Richard Stephen, Oxfordshire. Note the Stephani spelling was the Latin form of the name 3

The name is "mostly confined south of a line drawn west from the Wash, being represented in the counties north of that line by Stephenson and Stevenson. Its great home is in Cornwall, and there are secondary centres in Sussex, and in South Wales and in the adjoining English county of Hereford. The name is said to have been introduced after the Conquest. In Cornwall it is of very ancient date, as is evidenced by the family of Stephens of Tregeuna, who, according to Lower, are the descendants of the Stephyns of St. Ives in the. reign of Edward IV., their name being written then in the singular." 4

In Scotland, "Ada filius Stephani was burgess of Elgin in 1286 (REM., 221), Henricus Stephani had a charter of land in Ayr in 1409 (Friars Ayr, p. 43), William Stephani appears as rector of the church of Lestalric in 1418 (CMN., 28), John Stephani was burgess of Forfar in 1434 (RAA., II, 71) and witness in Brechin in 1435. Nichol fitz Steven, chaplain of Scotland, had license to take shipping at London or Dovorre at pleasure in 1372 " 1

Early History of the Stevens family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Stevens research. Another 211 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1589, 1603, 1628, 1629, 1645, 1647, 1653, 1656, 1659, 1660, 1667, 1669, 1679, 1683, 1718, 1805 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Stevens History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Stevens Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries. For that reason, spelling variations are common among many Anglo-Norman names. The shape of the English language was frequently changed with the introduction of elements of Norman French, Latin, and other European languages; even the spelling of literate people's names were subsequently modified. Stevens has been recorded under many different variations, including Stephens, Stevens, Stephen, Steven, Stiven and many more.

Early Notables of the Stevens family

Sir John Stephens of Finglas; Nathaniel Stephens (1589-1660), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1628 and 1653, supporter of the Parliamentarian cause in the English Civil War; John Stephens (1603-1679), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1645 and 1660, Member of Parliament for...
Another 53 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Stevens Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Stevens World Ranking

the United Kingdom, the name Stevens is the 101^st most popular surname with an estimated 47,493 people with that name. 5 However, in Australia, the name Stevens is ranked the 87^th most popular surname with an estimated 27,402 people with that name. 6 And in New Zealand, the name Stevens is the 96^th popular surname with an estimated 4,074 people with that name. 7 Canada ranks Stevens as 218^th with 18,082 people. 8 Newfoundland, Canada ranks Stevens as 738^th with 58 people. 9 The United States ranks Stevens as 127^th with 174,090 people. 10 Netherlands ranks Stevens as 120^th with 8,788 people. 11 South Africa ranks Stevens as 475^th with 14,976 people. 12

Migration of the Stevens family to Ireland

Some of the Stevens family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 68 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Stevens migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia included the Second Fleet of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Second Fleet

Mr. William Stevens, (Stephens), (d. 1791), British settler convicted in Buckinghamshire, England in 1789, sentenced to 7 years for stealing birds, transported aboard the ship "Admiral Barrington" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 13
Mr. Thomas Stevens, (Stephens), (1763 - 1831), aged 27, British settler convicted in Middlesex, England in 1789, sentenced to 7 years for stealing copper, transported aboard the ship "Salamander" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 14

Following the Second Fleet, other convicts and early settlers arriving in Australia include:

Stevens Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Miss Mary Stevens, (b. 1778), aged 22, English house keeper who was convicted in Somerset, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Earl Cornwallis" in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died in 1839 14
Mr. Elijah Stevens, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Baring" in April 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 15
Mr. Thomas Henry Stevens, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Baring" in April 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 15
Thomas Stevens, English convict from Middlesex, who was transported aboard the "Almorah" on April 1817, settling in New South Wales, Australia 16
Mr. William Stevens, English convict who was convicted in Surrey, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Asiatic" on 5th June 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 17
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Stevens 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:

Stevens Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Charles Stevens, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
James Hopkins Stevens, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
John Stevens, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
Mr. James Stevens, (b. 1815), aged 25, British cook travelling from London aboard the ship "Slains Castle" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 25th January 1841 18
Mrs. Margaret Stevens, (b. 1814), aged 26, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Slains Castle" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 25th January 1841 18
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Stevens migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 19

Stevens Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Judith Stevens, aged 19, who arrived in St Christopher in 1634 20
Mr. Edward Stevens, (b. 1582), aged 53, British settler travelling aboard the ship "Expedition" arriving in Barbados in 1636 21
John Stevens, who settled in Barbados in 1640
John Stevens, who settled in Jamaica in 1684

Stevens migration to Canada +

Stevens Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

John Stevens, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749
John Stevens, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
Margaret Stevens, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
Mary Stevens, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
Harry Stevens, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Stevens Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Russel S Stevens, who arrived in Canada in 1828
Hampson Stevens, who arrived in Canada in 1832
George Stevens, aged 29, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the ship "Edwin" from Dublin, Ireland
Ann Stevens, aged 26, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the ship "Edwin" from Dublin, Ireland
Christ. Stevens, aged 6, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the ship "Edwin" from Dublin, Ireland
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Stevens migration to the United States +

Stevens Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Robert Stevens, aged 22, from Middlesex, who arrived in New England in 1635 aboard the ship "planter", bound for Braintree, MA 20
William Stevens, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 20
Mr. Henry Stevens, aged 24, who arrived in New England in 1635 aboard the ship "Defence" 22
Henry Stevens, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1637 20
Nicholas Stevens, who arrived in Charlestown, Massachusetts in 1646 20
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Stevens Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Timothy Stevens, who arrived in Roxbury, Massachusetts in 1708 20
Hannah Stevens, who landed in Virginia in 1714 20
Rob Stevens, who landed in South Carolina in 1722 20
Peter Stevens, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1746 20
Jonathan Stevens, who arrived in New York in 1755 20

Stevens Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

James, Stevens Jr., aged 24, who landed in New Jersey in 1812 20
John J Stevens, aged 23, who landed in New York in 1812 20
Honor Stevens, who arrived in New York in 1825 20
Benjamin Stevens, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1833 20
Corbit Stevens, who landed in Texas in 1835 20
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Stevens (post 1700) +

Roger Lacey Stevens (1910-1998), American theatrical producer, arts administrator, and real estate executive, founding Chairman of both the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (1961), and National Endowment for the Arts (1965), recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
John Paul Stevens (1920-2019), American jurist, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (1975-2010), recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Julie Stevens (1936-2024), English actress, television presenter and briefly a singer, best known in Britain for her appearances on children's television and comedy serials
John "Rambo" Stevens (d. 2023), English music producer and manager, best known as manager and long-term friend of musician John Lydon, lead vocalist of the punk rock band the Sex Pistols
William Bagshaw Stevens (1756-1800), English poet, son of William Stevens, apothecary and surgeon, of Abingdon, Berkshire
William Stevens (1732-1807), English biographer and editor of the works of Jones of Nayland, born in the parish of St. Saviour's, Southwark
Richard John Samuel Stevens (1757-1837), English musician, born in London
George Alexander Stevens (1710-1784), English author of ‘A Lecture upon Heads,’ born in the parish of St. Andrew's, Holborn
Francis Stevens (1781-1823), English landscape-painter, born probably at Exeter
... (Another 43 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Stevens family +

Arrow Air Flight 1285

Mr. Kip L Stevens (1959-1985), American Second Lieutenant from Clarksville, Tennessee, USA who died in the Arrow Air Flight 1285 crash 23
John Alfred Stevens (1919-1943), Australian Private who died aboard the ship "Centaur" an Australian hospital ship when torpedoed on 14th May 1943
Mrs. Sarah Stevens (1843-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 24
Mr. Horace John Stevens (1906-1941), Australian Bandsman from Launceston, Tasmania, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 25
Maurice Edward Stevens, British Sick Berth Attendant aboard the HMS Cornwall (1942) when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he survived the sinking 26
... (Another 23 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sources +

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)
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)
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Most Common Last Names in Netherlands." Forebears, https://forebears.io/netherlands/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in South Africa." Forebears, https://forebears.io/south-africa/surnames
Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-cornwallis
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Almorah voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1817 with 180 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/almorah/1817
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
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)
Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's retrieved 29th September 2021. Retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
American War Memorials - Flight 1285. (Retrieved 2016, August 24) . Retrieved from http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/monument_details.php?SiteID=317&MemID=550
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
Force Z Survivors Crew List HMS Cornwall (Retrieved 2018, February 13th) - Retrieved from https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listcornwallcrew.html#A