Steven Family Crest, Coat of Arms and Name History

Steven Origin:

England, Greek

Origins of Steven:

It is an original name of Greek origin, from the participant name “Stephanas,” itself from “stephanos,” which means crown or top on the head. The name appeared in England before the Norman invasion of 1066, but only as a priest’s name in its learned (Latin) form of “Stefanus,” which was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086. After the invasion, the name became famous in England, and all over the Christendom in the Middle Ages, slightly because of the popularity of St. Stephen, the first Christian saint, who was pushed to death at Jerusalem three years after the death of Christ. The particular name also produced by King Stephen of England, famous as “Count of Blois,” who ruled from 1135 – 1154. There are many different spelling forms of the new surname produced from the particular name; these contain as Stephen, Steffan (a Welsh variant), Steven and Stiven, with the pet name forms as Stephens, Steffens, and Stevens. The naming of Benjamen Stephen listed at St. Bride’s, Fleet Street, London, in March 1661. A Royal symbol gave to the family of the name from Gloucester is a silver shield, on a blue bend three silver lions’ heads removed, at the peak being out of a gold ducal coronet, a silver dolphin’s head.

Variations:

More common variations are: Steaven, Stieven, Stueven, Stevene, Steeven, Staeven, Steveni, Steveny, Steyven, Stoeven.

England:

The origins of the surname Steven was found in Gloucestershire where people descended from FitzStephen, a Breton fighter who ultimately defeated from Count Stephen of Brittany and with Willliam the invader into England and fought the war of Hastings in 1066. Stephen FitzAirard was the commander of the “Mora,” the ship which introduced William the invader from Normandy, His son Thomas FitzStephen who was commander of the ill-fated white ship, which disappeared Barfleur, Normandy, in November 1120.

The very first recorded spelling of the family was shown to be that of Robert Stephen, dated about 1260, assistance in the “Assize Court Rolls of Cheshire.” It was during the time of King Henry III who was known to be the “The Frenchman,” dated 1216 – 1272. The origin of surnames during this period became a necessity with the introduction of personal taxation. It came to be known as Poll Tax in England. Surnames all over the country began to develop, with unique and shocking spelling variations of the original one.

Ireland:

Many of the people with name Steven had moved to Ireland during the 17th century.

United States of America:

Individuals with the surname Steven settled in the United States in three different centuries respectively in the 17th, 18th, and 19th. Some of the people with the name Steven who settled in the United States in the 17th century included William Steven arrived in Virginia in 1636. John Steven landed in Maryland in 1648. Richard Steven came to Virginia in 1651. Martha Steven landed in Virginia in 1670.

Some of the people with the surname Steven who settled in the United States in the 18th century included Anne Steven arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1745. James Steven, Sarah Steven, Christian Steven at the age of 23 and Christine Steven, all arrived in North Carolina in the same year 1775. Chrn Steven at the age of 23 landed in New York, NY in 1775.

The following century saw more Steven surnames arrive. Some of the people with the surname Steven who settled in the United States in the 19th century included William Steven at the age of 32, landed in New York in 1812. David Steven arrived in New York, NY in 1834. Matthias Steven landed in Washington Division, Pennsylvania in 1842. Bern Anton Leopold Steven landed in America in 1849.

Australia:

Some of the people with the surname Steven who settled in Australia in the 19th century included Joseph Steven at the age of 39 arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship “Phoebe Dunbar.”

Here is the population distribution of the last name Steven: United States 6,765; England 2,673; Tanzania 20,953; Nigeria 16,812; Malaysia 3,465; Indonesia 1,995; Rawanda 3,157; Uganda 12,696; Vietnam 3,180; Papua New Guinea 6,725.

Notable People:

Carlo Steven Krakoff (November 1974 – July 2011), well-known as Carl Steven. He was an old American child actor and voice artist. He was a citizen of Glendale, California.

Fisher Stevens was born as Steven Fisher in November in the year 1963. He is an American actor, producer, director, and author. As an actor, he is famous for his portrait of Chuck Fishman on Early Edition.

Blazons & Genealogy Notes

Ar. on a chev. betw. two crescents in chief and a sinister hand in base couped gu. as many mullets of the field.