Find out how popular the last name Stephen is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Stephen.

Stephen, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Stephen surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Stephen in America

Stephen is the 3585th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Stephen surname appeared 9,925 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Stephen.

We can also compare 2010 data for Stephen to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Stephen

The surname Stephen originated in ancient Greece and is derived from the Greek word "stephanos," meaning "crown" or "garland." It was initially used as a descriptive name, possibly referring to someone who wore a crown or worked in a profession related to making crowns or garlands.

The name Stephen was brought to England by the Normans after the Norman Conquest of 1066. It was initially spelled as "Estienne" or "Estevene" in Old French, reflecting the Norman influence. Over time, the spelling evolved to its current form, Stephen.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Stephen can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears in various forms, such as "Stephanus" and "Stefanus."

In the 12th century, a notable figure named Stephen of Blois (c. 1097–1154) became King of England from 1135 to 1154. His reign was marked by civil war and conflict with the Angevins, led by Empress Matilda, who also claimed the throne.

Another famous bearer of the surname was Stephen Langton (c. 1150–1228), an English cardinal who played a crucial role in the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215. He was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury by Pope Innocent III and was a key figure in the struggle between King John and the English barons.

During the 16th century, a prominent figure named Stephen Gardiner (c. 1483–1555) served as Lord Chancellor of England under King Henry VIII and Queen Mary I. He was a staunch opponent of the English Reformation and played a significant role in the persecution of Protestants during Mary's reign.

In the 17th century, Stephen Goodyear (1638–1658) was an English Quaker who became a martyr for his religious beliefs. He was imprisoned and eventually executed for his refusal to swear an oath, which was against his Quaker principles.

Another notable individual with the surname Stephen was Stephen F. Austin (1793–1836), known as the "Father of Texas." He was an American empresario who led the second and ultimately successful colonization of Texas by bringing settlers from the United States to the region.

The surname Stephen has a rich history that spans centuries and can be traced back to its Greek origins. It has been borne by kings, religious figures, political leaders, and ordinary people throughout the ages, leaving an indelible mark on the cultural and historical landscape of various regions around the world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Stephen

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Stephen.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Stephen was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Stephen has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Stephen was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Stephen, please contact us.

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