The Stephens Coat of Arms and Name Meaning
Discover the meaning of Stephens, its origins in England & Wales, and the story behind a Stephens family crest.
Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the Stephens coat of arms for you.
Origin of the Stephens name
Stephens is a patronymic, "son of Stephen", from the Greek name Stephanos, "crown, garland". It honoured St Stephen, the first Christian martyr, whose feast falls on the day after Christmas, and became popular in England after the Norman Conquest. The surname is most frequent in Cornwall, Devon and south Wales. The spellings Stevens and Stephenson are related names.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Stephens name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Stephens name in England & Wales. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, Australia and Canada; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
Get your full Stephens family history
The complete Stephens pack goes much further: documented origins, early records and family spread, plus a hand-checked coat of arms.
Stephens name FAQ
What does the Stephens name mean?
Son of Stephen ("crown"). Common variants include Stevens, Stephenson, Stephen.
Where does the Stephens surname come from?
It originates in England & Wales, and is also found in the United States, Australia and Canada.
Is there a Stephens coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Stephens crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Stephens coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford); US Census Bureau 2010.