Surname Steedman - Meaning and Origin
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Steedman: What does the surname Steedman mean?
The surname Steedman is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is derived from an occupation. The name translates to "stud man" or "keeper of horses," reflecting its initial givers' involvement in caring for or keeping horses. It comes from the Old English word "stede," meaning stud or place, and "mann," meaning man. The incorporation of the word "stede" indicates a connection with horses or a stud of horses. The addition of "mann" signifies a position or occupation. Thus, people with the Steedman surname were likely either horse breeders, horse trainers, stable owners, or horse dealers in the past. Occupation-based surnames were typically given based on the principal profession of the head of the household during early periods. It's a common type of surname distribution in countries with Germanic language influences, like England.
Order DNA origin analysisSteedman: Where does the name Steedman come from?
The last name Steedman is most commonly found in Scotland, though it is not limited to that country. The origin of the name is originally from the Scottish-English border region. According to records, Steedman first appeared in the 12th century when a family member was recorded as “Henry Steyman” in the “Liber Niger” or “Black Book of Paisley”.
Today, the Steedman last name is most prevalent in Scotland, followed by the UK, Australia and New Zealand. The United States also has a few people with the name Steedman, though not as many as other countries.
In Scotland in particular, the Steedman last name is most often associated with Highlanders. It is thought that the Steedmans are descendents of people who moved to Scotland from the south of England after the Norman invasion.
The Steedman family crest is found on some historical records, though it is not often used today. It is similar to the crest of many other Scottish clans, featuring a stag’s head.
In addition to the Steedman surname, there are variations including Steadman and Stidman. The family’s coat of arms is a castle with three towers and two keys crossed over a shield.
The Steedman name is still prominent today and can be found around the world, albeit not as commonly as it is in Scotland.
Variations of the surname Steedman
The variants, spellings and surnames of origin for the surname ‘Steedman’ are Stidman, Steedmen, Steadman, Sidman, Steedeman, Stidemen, Steadmen, Sidemen, Steademan and Sideman. Historically, the name may have been derived from the French or English place-name St. Edmond meaning ‘Edmond’s stone’.
The website of the Steedman Family History Project states that the surname Steedman has Anglo Saxon and Norman origins and is popular in England. It is first found in London records, with a Thomas Stideman in 1273 and a Ralph Stideman in 1327. The variant spelling Steedman emerged in 1625, and a William Steedman was baptised in London in 1641. Other branches of the family with variants of the name can be found in Scotland.
In the modern day, the name has spread to America, Canada, Australia and other parts of the world. A glance at many online genealogical search tools reveals the fact that the name Steedman is indeed still popular in many countries.
As with many surnames, the spelling of the name Steedman has been subject to much change over the centuries. Nowadays, Steedman can go by many different spellings, including Stidman, Steedmen, Steadman, Sidman, Steedeman, Stidemen, Steadmen, Sidemen, Steademan and Sideman.
Famous people with the name Steedman
- Margaret Steedman: Margaret is a British political theorist and Professor of Political Science at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
- Elyse Steedman: Elyse is a Canadian musical theatre actress, singer, dancer, and choreographer.
- Pippa Steedman: Pippa is a New Zealand fencer who has competed in the individual and team épée events at the 2016 Summer Olympics.
- Anita Steedman: Anita is a British actress who has appeared on television and stage. She is best known for playing Grethe in Seaforth and Jane Claymore in Kiss Me Kate.
- James Steedman: James is a British film director and producer, responsible for movies such as Don’t Come Around Here and Romeo On The Run.
- Robert Steedman: Robert is a renowned Australian poet, whose work is part of the post-modernist literary tradition, focusing on the powerful few dominating the meek majority.
- Jonathan Steedman: Jonathan is a British football midfielder and currently plays for Wetherby Athletic in Yorkshire’s West Riding County Football League.
- Charles Steedman: Charles is a British jurist, legal scholar, and professor. He is known for being the head of comparative law at the School of Law within the University of Edinburgh.