Stephen is a surname of

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

, Scottish, and

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) ** Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

origin. It is a reasonably common surname. The German variant is thought to have originated from the

German-speaking world This article details the geographical distribution of speakers of the German language, regardless of the legislative status within the countries where it is spoken. In addition to the German-speaking area (german: Deutscher Sprachraum) in Europe, ...

as (Von) ''Stephan''. Stephen is the 3,845 most common surname in the USA. MacStèaphain (

Scottish Gaelic Scottish Gaelic ( gd, Gàidhlig ), also known as Scots Gaelic and Gaelic, is a Goidelic language (in the Celtic branch of the Indo-European language family) native to the Gaels of Scotland. As a Goidelic language, Scottish Gaelic, as well ...

) Stephen is a sept of the clan MacTavish. It is believed that Stephens from North East Scotland (

Morayshire Moray; ( gd, Moireibh ) or Morayshire, called Elginshire until 1919, is a historic county, registration county and lieutenancy area of Scotland, bordering Nairnshire to the west, Inverness-shire to the south, and Banffshire to the east. It ...

, Banffshire, and Aberdeenshire) south of the Moray Firth are descended from a

Viking Vikings ; non, víkingr is the modern name given to seafaring people originally from Scandinavia (present-day Denmark, Norway and Sweden), who from the late 8th to the late 11th centuries raided, pirated, traded and se ...

named Tarben whose longship landed in Banffshire in the late 10th century CE. His name was

Christianized Christianization ( or Christianisation) is to make Christian; to imbue with Christian principles; to become Christian. It can apply to the conversion of an individual, a practice, a place or a whole society. It began in the Roman Empire, conti ...

to Stephen.

Notable people with the surname

Stephen (Australian legal family) The Stephen family is a prominent legal dynasty in Australia that has produced a number of judges and jurists. Members include: * John Stephen (1771–1833), commissioner of the Courts of Requests in New South Wales, solicitor-general, judge of th ...

, a prominent legal dynasty, includes :* Sir Alfred Stephen (1802–1894), Chief Justice of New South Wales :*

George Milner Stephen George Milner Stephen (18 December 1812 – 16 January 1894), often written G. Milner Stephen, was a South Australian and Victorian politician and faith healer. Early life Stephen born in Wells, Somerset, England, the sixth son of John Stephe ...

(1812–1894), Australian politician and faith healer :*

Harold Stephen Harold Wilberforce Hindmarsh Stephen (1841 – 30 November 1889) was an Australian politician. He was born at Penzance in Cornwall to land speculator George Milner Stephen, who would later act as Governor of South Australia, and Mary Hindm ...

MLA (1841–1889), Australian politician :* Sir Henry Stephen (

Matthew Henry Stephen Sir Matthew Henry Stephen (5 December 1828 – 1 April 1920), was a politician and Puisne Judge in New South Wales. The Stephen family is a prominent legal dynasty in Australia. Stephen was the eldest son of the Hon. Sir Alfred Stephen (180 ...

1828–1920), Puisne Judge in New South Wales :* James Wilberforce Stephen (1822–1881), judge of the Victorian Supreme Court :*

Montagu Stephen Montagu Consett Stephen (28 April 1827 – 19 May 1872) was an Australian politician. The Stephen family is a prominent legal dynasty in Australia. Montagu was born in Hobart, the son of Virginia and Alfred Stephen, who would later become Li ...

MLA (1827–1872), solicitor and politician :* Septimus Alfred Stephen MLC (1842–1901), solicitor and politician * A. G. Stephen (1862–1924), Hong Kong banker * Caroline Emelia Stephen (1834–1909), British philanthropist and writer on Quakerism * C. M. Stephen (1918–1984), Indian politician * Elizabeth Willisson Stephen (1856-1925), American author *

George Stephen, 1st Baron Mount Stephen George Stephen, 1st Baron Mount Stephen, (5 June 1829 – 29 November 1921), known as Sir George Stephen, Bt, between 1886 and 1891, was a Canadian businessman. Originally from Scotland, he made his fame in Montreal and was the first Canadian ...

, Canadian businessman, financier, philanthropist * George A. Stephen (c.1922–1993), American inventor and entrepreneur *

Harry Lushington Stephen Sir Harry Lushington Stephen, 3rd Baronet (2 March 1860 – 1 November 1945) was a British barrister and Judge of the Calcutta High Court."Stephen, Sir Harry Lushington', Who Was Who, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 1920–200 ...

, judge, alderman, writer * Hugh R. Stephen (1913–2002), mayor of Victoria, BC, Canada * James Stephen (disambiguation), several people :* James Stephen (architect) (1858–1938), American architect :*

James Stephen (British politician) James Stephen (30 June 1758 – 10 October 1832) was the principal English lawyer associated with the movement for the abolition of slavery. Stephen was born in Poole, Dorset; the family home later being removed to Stoke Newington. He married ...

(1758–1832), British abolitionist lawyer and Member of Parliament :*Sir

James Stephen (civil servant) Sir James Stephen (3 January 1789 – 14 September 1859) was the British Undersecretary of State for the Colonies from 1836 to 1847. He made an important contribution to the Slavery Abolition Act 1833. Early life Stephen was born at Lambeth, the ...

(1789–1859), British under-secretary for the colonies, 1836–1847 :*Sir

James Fitzjames Stephen Sir James Fitzjames Stephen, 1st Baronet, KCSI (3 March 1829 – 11 March 1894) was an English lawyer, judge, writer, and philosopher. One of the most famous critics of John Stuart Mill, Stephen achieved prominence as a philosopher, law ...

(1829–1894), British judge and anti-libertarian writer :* James Kenneth Stephen (1859–1892), English poet * Jimmy Stephen (1922–2012), footballer *

Julia Stephen Julia, Lady Stephen (born Julia Prinsep Jackson; 7 February 1846 – 5 May 1895) was an English Pre-Raphaelite model and philanthropist. She was the wife of the biographer Leslie Stephen and mother of Virginia Woolf and Vanessa Bell, members o ...

(1846–1895), English art model, wife of Leslie *

Leslie Stephen Sir Leslie Stephen (28 November 1832 – 22 February 1904) was an English author, critic, historian, biographer, and mountaineer, and the father of Virginia Woolf and Vanessa Bell. Life Sir Leslie Stephen came from a distinguished intellect ...

, English author, critic, historian, biographer, mountaineer, husband of Julia *

Marcus Stephen Marcus Ajemada Stephen (born 1 October 1969) is a Nauruan politician and former sportsperson who previously was a member of the Cabinet of Nauru, and who served as President of Nauru from December 2007 to November 2011. The son of Nauruan par ...

(born 1969), President of Nauru (2007–2011) *

Nicol Stephen Nicol Ross Stephen, Baron Stephen (born 23 March 1960) is a Scottish politician who served as Deputy First Minister of Scotland and Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning from 2005 to 2007. A member of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, he ...

, Scottish politician * Ninian Stephen (1923–2017), Australian judge and Governor-General of Australia * Norman Stephen (1865–1948), Scottish schoolmaster and cricketer *

Pamela Helen Stephen Pamela Helen Stephen (27 January 1964 – 30 November 2021) was a British classical mezzo-soprano, who sang in operas and oratorios. Biography and career Pamela Helen Stephen was born in Solihull on 27 January 1964. She grew up in Scotland, ...

(1964–2021), English opera singer *

Shamar Stephen Shamar Irvin Stephen ( ; born February 25, 1991) is an American football defensive end who is a free agent. He played college football at UConn. He was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the seventh round, 220th overall, of the 2014 NFL Draft. ...

, American football player * Susan Stephen, English actor * W. S. E. Stephen (died c. 1973), philatelist

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stephen (Surname) Surnames from given names

Notable people with the surname

See also

References