Surname Stevenson - Meaning and Origin

Emotional Journey through the Genetic Branches: Unraveling the Stevenson Legacy with iGENEA

Undergoing a DNA test with iGENEA triggered a rollercoaster of emotions, revealing a fascinating history underpinning the Stevenson lineage. Heightened curiosity gave way to surprise, pride, awe, and humility, leading to a profound sense of connection with my family roots and the enduring strength of the Stevenson clan.

X. Stevenson

Stevenson: What does the surname Stevenson mean?

The surname Stevenson is of English and Scottish origin that means “son of Steven.” It's a patronymic name formed by adding the medieval English suffix "-son", meaning son of, to the personal name Steven. The name Steven itself is derived from the Greek name Stephanos which means 'crown' or 'garland'. Therefore, in a broader sense, Stevenson could be interpreted as 'son of the crowned or garlanded one'. It's important to note that this does not imply royalty but is related to the first name's original meaning. This name, like many other surnamed, would have been used in ancient times to distinguish between people with the same first name, by identifying one's immediate male ancestor. Today, it is a prevalent family name in English-speaking countries.

Stevenson: Where does the name Stevenson come from?

The last name Stevenson is most common in the United Kingdom and Ireland, though there are pockets of its prevalence in North America, New Zealand, Australia, and mainland Europe. In the UK and Ireland, according to 2019 census data, Stevenson is the 36th most popular name, with approximately 17,400 individuals reported with the last name.

In North America, Stevenson has been present since the 1600s, when the first settlers bearing the name arrived in Virginia. In modern times, there appears to be a greater presence of the name in the US than Canada; approximately 16,000 Americans were identified as having the last name Stevenson in 2019. In Canada, the number was much lower, with only 5,500 people identified.

In New Zealand, the Stevenson name is more common than in Canada, with 8,000 Kiwis reporting the name in the 2018 census. Stevenson is also present in Australia, though the statistics show a much smaller presence with only 1,900 Australians identified in 2019.

Finally, on the continent of Europe, the last name Stevenson is most common in the Netherlands, with 9,000 Dutch people reported with the name in 2018. Following the Netherlands is Germany, with 2,000 Stevensons, and France with 1,500 people recorded.

Variations of the surname Stevenson

The surname Stevenson is believed to have originated in Scotland and can have various variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Common variants and spellings include Stevenston, Stenson, Stinson, Stenson, Stephenson, and Stevens, among others.

The surname Stevenson can also be spelled as "Stephenson", due to the fact that the spelling of names has gone through various changes since the Middle Ages. For example, “Steven” was often spelled “Stephen”, such as in the case of the great Scottish engineer Robert Stephenson, also known as Robert Louis Stevenson.

Furthermore, there are many surnames that have come from the same origin, such as Stephens, Stevensons, Steenson, Stephen, and Staverson. The surname Stephens can be seen in medieval records such as William Stephan, the priest of Soham and Chamberlyne Stephen from 1296 in the Subsidy Rolls of Surrey. Other variants such as Steven and Steenson can be seen in the Hundred Rolls of 1273 for the counties of Oxfordshire, Lincolnshire, and Cambridgeshire.

In addition, other surnames of the same origin include Stever, Steverison, and Steevens. Stever was a variant of Stephen, while Steverison can be seen in Scotland as early as 1396, when Robert Steverison was recorded along with many other individuals.

The surname Stevenson can also be traced back to the Gaelic form of the same name which is “Mac an Stiobhard”, meaning “son of the Steward”. The Steward was the hereditary title of the Earls of Fife, and henceforth the Mac an Stiobhards were the hereditary servants of the earls. For instance, when Archibald Campbell was created Earl of Argyll in 1545, he made John Stewart, his father’s servant, the Steward of Glenbucket. This John Stewart then became known as John Mac an Stiobhard and many of his descendants retained the surname Stewart or Stevenson.

Famous people with the name Stevenson

• Robert Louis Stevenson: Scottish novelist, poet, and essayist best known for his classic works Treasure Island and The Strange Case of Dr. Jeykll and Mr. Hyde.
• Adlai Stevenson II: 23rd Governor of Illinois and twice the Democratic Party's nominee for President of the United States.
• Benjamin L. Stevenson: American former politician in the state of Alabama who served as a Democrat of the Alabama House of Representatives.
• Joanne Stevenson: American epidemiologist who works in the area of child health, with a focus on severe acute malnutrition from a human nutrition perspective.
• Carl Stevenson: British Army officer and courtier.
• Anne Stevenson: English poet, biographer, writer, and teacher.
• Robert Boothby Stevenson: British Navy officer and Antarctic explorer.
• Peter Stevenson: British illustrator and composer of children's books.
• Robert Munroe Stevenson: Scottish zoologist and comparative anatomist.
• Thomas Stevenson: Scottish lighthouse engineer.

Other surnames

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