Meaning and origin
The last name Stevenson originates from the medieval personal name Stephen, which is derived from the Greek name Stephanos meaning "crown" or "garland." The name was introduced to Britain by the Normans after the 1066 Norman Conquest and over time evolved to Stevenson. It became a patronymic surname, meaning "son of Stephen," denoting descent from an ancestor named Stephen. The variant "Stevenson" emerged in Scotland and northern England, reflecting the regional pronunciation of the surname. Descendants of Stevenson families can find their roots in various parts of the United Kingdom and beyond, tracing back to individuals who carried the given name Stephen generations ago.
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.
#432
Stevenson was the 432nd most common surname in the 2010 US Census, with 75,169 people, about 25 in every 100,000.
Who carries it
Where it is found
Countries linked to Stevenson.
Surnames like Stevenson
Names it is linked with, then names with the same origin and a similar standing.
Check the sources
- Forebears: where Stevenson 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.