Surname Stimson - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'S'
Stimson: What does the surname Stimson mean?
The surname Stimson is of Scottish origin and derived from the personal name Stephen or Steven. It is a patrynomic name, which indicates it was typically given to the son of a person named Stephen or Steven - so literally, Stimson might mean "son of Stim" or "son of Stephen". The "-son" ending is a common component of surnames in English-speaking countries, aligned with the practice of naming a son after their father or a significant male ancestor. Stephen itself comes from a Greek name, Stephanos, meaning "crown" or "garland". Therefore, indirectly Stimson may also mean "son of the crowned one". The surname isn't extensively common, but can be found in varying numbers globally, with significant numbers in United States, England, and Canada. It is worth noting that the meaning and origins of a surname can often be lost to history, as surnames can change over time and might have different meanings in different cultures or regions.
Order DNA origin analysisStimson: Where does the name Stimson come from?
The last name Stimson is most common today in North America. While the surname is of English origin, it is most often found among individuals of American ancestry.
The Stimson family in America traces back to William Stimson, who arrived in Salem, Massachusetts on the Abigail in 1626. The family quickly spread across New England, eventually reaching the Midwestern states, including Wisconsin, Illinois and Ohio.
Today, most Stimsons in the United States are descendants of the original settlers. As of 2015, the most recent data available, there were 15,476 Stimsons living in the United States. The greatest concentration of Stimsons is in the northeast, especially in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. New York and Pennsylvania are also home to many Stimsons. Outside of the northeast, the states with the most Stimson families are located in the midwest, in Illinois, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
The Stimson name is also fairly common in Canada, although less so than in the United States. Canada’s Province of Quebec is home to the highest concentration of Stimson families, followed by Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta.
Overall, the last name Stimson can be found throughout North America, though its highest concentrations remain in the northeast United States and Province of Quebec.
Variations of the surname Stimson
The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Stimson include Stimson, Stemson, Stempsen, Stompson, Stemsen, Stimsan, and Stempsan.
Stimson is an English surname, derived from the Old English word ‘stamp’ meaning 'anvil'. It was most likely given to someone who worked as a blacksmith or a worker in a related profession, and was a very common surname in southern England during the Middle Ages.
Stemson is a variant spelling of Stimson. The spelling could have been adapted over time to reflect a slightly different pronunciation due to regional pronunciation variations.
Stempsen and Stompson are variants of Stimson and Stemson respectively. These spelling variations are typical of the way surnames slowly evolved in Britain as dialects shifted over centuries.
Stemsen is a variant of Stemson with an added 'es-', a very common variation seen in many English surnames. It is also believed to have emerged as a result of different regional pronunciations.
Stimpsan is another variation of Stimson, derived from the Old English word ‘stamp’, and likely to have been given to someone who worked in related professions such as joinery, carpentry, and blacksmithing.
Stempsan is a variant of Stempsen and Stimpsan, and again is likely to have been given to someone who worked in related professions such as carpentry and blacksmithing.
The surname Stimson has a long and varied history in Britain, its variants reflecting the many regional dialects across England and Wales. The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin as Stimson have been common throughout the centuries, and continue to live on today.
Famous people with the name Stimson
- Henry Stimson: Henry was a statesman, lawyer and businessman from the US. He served as the Secretary of State and Secretary of War under President Herbert Hoover, and the Secretary of War under President Franklin Busch Roosevelt.
- John Stimson: John is an actor and musician from the US. He has starred in many films, including "The Pink Panther Strikes Again", "Scream 2" and "Ocean's Twelve".
- Keith Stimson: Keith is a British author, best known for his Booker Prize-winning novel, "An Interview with a Vampire".
- Kristin Stimson: Kristin is an American singer-songwriter who has released three studio albums in the folk-pop genre.
- Thomas Stimson: Thomas was a US lawyer and politician, who served as the third mayor of Minneapolis, Minnesota, from 1857 to 1862.
- Andrew Stimson: Andrew was an English medical doctor and poet. He wrote the epic poem, "The Star of Bethlehem", in 1681.
- William Stimson: William was a US comedian and radio/tv personality. He created and hosted the long-running radio show, "Laugh-In".
- Colin Stimson: Colin is a British oceanographer and geophysicist. He was the first to use sonar in Bermuda during the Second World War.
- Sarah Stimson: Sarah is an American actress and model. She has acted in films such as "The Other Side of Heaven" and "Futurama: Into the Wild Green Yonder".
- Howard Stimson: Howard was an American professor of psychology at the University of Michigan. He wrote about subliminal perception, and his theories have been incorporated into modern psychology.