Surname Stidham - Meaning and Origin
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Stidham: What does the surname Stidham mean?
The surname Stidham is of Old English origin, derived from a place-name found in various regions in England. The original spelling might have been "Steadham" or "Stedham." The name can be broken into two parts: "Sted" or "Stead," indicating a place, farm, or field, and "Ham," denoting a village or homestead. Therefore, it is commonly believed to mean "farm village" or "village on a farm." It was given to individuals living in or near such locations. As with many Old English names, it was created to assist in the identification of individuals, using their surrounding geographical features or occupations. This surname, which has multiple variations like Stedham, Steddam, or Steadham, was likely first used in the medieval period, around the 12th or 13th centuries. Today, it is found in several countries, though predominantly in England and the United States.
Order DNA origin analysisStidham: Where does the name Stidham come from?
The last name Stidham is most commonly found in the southern United States, especially in the states of Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Tennessee. It is also prevalent in Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, Georgia, and North Carolina. This suggests that the Stidham surname most likely has English or Irish origins, as these states were colonies of the British Empire and part of the original Thirteen Colonies.
In modern times, the top states with the highest population of Stidhams are (in order) Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Arizona, Mississippi, Missouri, Texas, Virginia, Illinois, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida.
The Stidham surname can also be found in parts of Europe. For example, England is home to over 800 Stidhams, while Scotland has more than 300.
The Stidhams recorded in the United States Census Bureau are primarily descendants of ancestors who entered the country in the 19th century. They often had surnames such as Tidwell, Stitham, and Stidham. It is speculated that these surnames may have evolved from a single ancestor who originated in Britain.
Overall, the last name Stidham is prominently found in the southern United States but may also be found in some parts of Europe. It is likely that the name originated in the British Isles, and its popularity may be due to immigration from the British Isles to the United States in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Variations of the surname Stidham
The surname Stidham is said to have originally derived from the Old English word "Stigedham" which referred to someone who resided in a hamlet on the site of a particular sty. Historically the surname has been interchangeable with its variants of Stidam and Stidhamme as well as its various spellings such as Stidam, Steedham, Steedhamme, Steedhams, Stitham, and Studham. It is most commonly found in the United States and Scotland.
Variations of the name may have occurred over time as a result of poor communication, illiteracy and the ever changing accent of the regions. Other standardized spellings can include Stathman, Stedham, Studham, Stitham and Steadam. Within the United States there are also some variations such as Stedman, Stitham, Stedam, and Stedhams.
In some cases the surnames Stidham and Stidman can be traced back to the same ancestor - the difference arising out of an error when recording the name. Then, the severity of the mistake and the way it was remembered or sounded determined the variant.
There are a number of related surnames to Stidham, such as Steed, Stedman, Steidham, Stedman, and Steadman. As well as spellings, geographical variations also occur which can be as Stedum, Stedumme, Steedman, all derived from the same root.
Therefore when searching for records of the surname Stidham, the variants, alternate spellings and the related surnames should also be taken into consideration.
Famous people with the name Stidham
- Jarrett Stidham: Football player for the New England Patriots
- Alex Stidham: Stand-up comedian, writer, actor, and producer
- Ray Stidham: American painter and abstract expressionist
- E.C. Stidham: American judge
- Janet Stidham: Award-winning American landscape and floral photographer
- Brad Stidham: Country music singer and songwriter
- Glenn Stidham: American football player
- Kenneth Stidham: Roboticist specializing in mechatronics and autonomous robotics
- Marty Stidham: Jazz saxophonist
- Casey Stidham: Lead Singer and Founder of country music band “The Bucktown Kickers”