Stivers History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Stivers

What does the name Stivers mean?

The evidence is not conclusive, "but the name (found also as Startivant) is apparently a nickname—‘Start Away’ !—for a messenger or pursuivant [from Middle English sterten, to start, and Anglo-French ava(u)nt, forward, away, Old French avant, Latin ab ante]" 1

Bardsley agrees with this origin of the name and negates the idea that "this sobriquet would seem to be a compound of sturdy, rash, inconsiderate; and avaunt, a boast, a vaunt, and also an old French sobriquet for some reckless boaster. " (Bardlsey)

Early Origins of the Stivers family

The surname Stivers was first found in Yorkshire, where the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 include a few early spellings: Willeimus Styrtauant; Willeimus Stirciuant; and Robertas Stircyuant. All held lands there at that time. 2

Later John Stirtava(u)nt was listed in the Yorkshire in 1404; Richard and Thomas Stirtava(u)nt were listed as Freemen of York in 1413 and 1447. Alan Stertevaunt was listed in Yorkshire in 1445. 3

Early History of the Stivers family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Stivers research. Another 100 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1379, 1570, 1604, 1685, 1780, 1782, 1812, 1830 and 1868 are included under the topic Early Stivers History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Stivers Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Sturtevant, Sturdivantt, Sturtivantt, Sturtivant, Sturdevant, Sturdivant, Sturtifant, Sturdifant, Sturdyvant, Sturdyfant, Sturtevant, Sturdavent and many more.

Early Notables of the Stivers family

Distinguished members of the family include Willelmus Styrtauant, a prominent landholder during the 14th century. The Sturdivant Gang was a multi-generational, American family of counterfeiters, whose criminal activities took place over a fifty-year period, from the 1780s, in...
Another 38 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Stivers Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Stivers Ranking

In the United States, the name Stivers is the 9,080^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 4

Migration of the Stivers family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Roger Sturdevant to Virginia in 1634; Edward Sturdivantt to Barbados in 1680; Isaac Sturdavent to Boston, Massachusetts in 1764; Joseph Sturdivant to Philadelphia in 1832.

Contemporary Notables of the name Stivers (post 1700) +

Private Thomas W. "Tom" Stivers (1850-1877), American soldier in the U.S. Army who served with the 7th U.S. Cavalry during the Great Sioux War of 1876-77, recipient of the Medal of Honor
Bertram Robert Stivers II (b. 1961), American politician, President of the Kentucky Senate (2013)
Camilla Stivers, American academic, Distinguished Professor of Public Administration at Levin College of Cleveland State University
Steven Ernst "Steve" Stivers (b. 1965), American politician, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio's 15th district (2011-)
John L. Stivers, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Colorado, 1932 5
John D. Stivers (1861-1935), American Republican politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Orange County 2nd District, 1910-12; Member of New York State Senate 25th District, 1913-18 5
Gideon V. Stivers (1786-1870), American Democratic Party politician, Mayor of Camden, New Jersey, 1830-38; Defeated, 1859 5
George Stivers, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Iowa, 1916 5
E. B. Stivers, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Ohio State House of Representatives from Brown County; Elected 1897 5
Daniel B. Stivers, American politician, Member of Kentucky State House of Representatives, 1851-52 5
... (Another 3 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 17) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html