Meaning and origin
The last name Stephens has its origin in the ancient Greek personal name "Stephanos," meaning "crown" or "garland." Derived from the word "stephanos," the surname Stephens is an anglicized form that became popular during the medieval period, likely introduced to England by Crusaders returning from the Holy Land. Over time, the name spread throughout the British Isles and beyond, carried by individuals of various ancestral backgrounds and occupations, resulting in its prevalence today.
Surname origins are rarely settled: one spelling can have several sources, and families often took a name for reasons nobody wrote down. Check it against the sources below before you rely on it.
#190
Stephens was the 190th most common surname in the 2010 US Census, with 144,646 people, about 49 in every 100,000.
Who carries it
Surnames like Stephens
Names it is linked with, then names with the same origin and a similar standing.
Check the sources
- Forebears: where Stephens is found around the world
- The Internet Surname Database: a second opinion on the origin
- US Census Bureau: the 2010 surname figures used here
For a name you are serious about, compare the dictionaries: Reaney and Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames; Hanks, Dictionary of American Family Names.