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Stephen Family History

Stephen Surname Meaning

Scottish and English: from the personal name Stephen a vernacular form of Biblical Latin Stephanus Greek Stephanos (from Greek stephanos ‘crown’).

The modern English form is also spelled Steven; the -ph- spelling is due to medieval clerks' knowledge of the Biblical Latin form.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Stephen family from?

You can see how Stephen families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Stephen family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Stephen families were found in and Scotland in 1841. In 1891 there were 303 Stephen families living in London. This was about 16% of all the recorded Stephen's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Stephen families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Stephen surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Stephen ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Stephen. 10% of Stephen men worked as a General Labourer and 66% of Stephen women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Stephen were Cooper and Unpaid Domestic.

View Census Data for Stephen | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    10%
  • Chartered Accountant
    5%
  • Carpenter
    5%
  • Cooper
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    66%
  • Private Means
    4%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%

What Stephen family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 152,000 census records available for the last name Stephen. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Stephen census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Stephen

Passenger Lists

There are 28,000 immigration records available for the last name Stephen. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Stephen immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 18,000 military records available for the last name Stephen. For the veterans among your Stephen ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Stephen military records

You've only scratched the surface of Stephen family history

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What is the average Stephen lifespan?

Between 1950 and 2004, in the United States, Stephen life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1956, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Stephen in 1950 was 31, and 74 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Stephen

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Stephen ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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