Stephens
A patronymic surname meaning “Stephen’s son,” from the given name Stephen.
The #190 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 2,134 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Stephens is a patronymic surname formed from the medieval given name Stephen, with the added English genitive -s meaning “of Stephen” or “Stephen’s.” The personal name Stephen ultimately comes from Greek Stephanos, meaning “crown” or “garland.” In older records the name appears in spellings such as Stephenes, Stephens, and related forms like Steevens.
History
The surname is well established in England by the 13th and 14th centuries, where records show forms such as Stephenes and Stephani. It appears as an ordinary hereditary surname in many regions, and variants like Steevens and Stephenson developed alongside it. Lower notes a Cornish family of Stephens at Tregenna, St. Ives, under the spelling Stephyn in the time of Edward IV.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The same root that produced Stephens also lies behind the very common Christian given name Stephen, literally “crown” or “garland.”
From the historical record
“Marr. of Sir Gawaine (Fragmt.) STEPHENS, Stephen's (Son) 1 _. ,. STEPHENSON, Stephen's Son / ^Stephen. Gilbert fil. Stephani. — Hund. Rolls, A.D. 1274. Richard Stephenes. — Sows. Subs. Roll, A.D. 1327. 5tepkin”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)