The surname Stonore was first found in Oxfordshire at Stonor, a Saxon village that dates back to the late 10th century when it was named Stanora. Literally the place name means "stony hill-slope," from the Old English words "stan" + "ora" 1
Stonor Park is an historic country house and private deer park situated nearby and has been the home of the Stonor family for more than eight centuries. It is generally thought that the house was probably begun after 1280 when Sir Richard Stoner (1250-1314) married his second wife, Margaret Harnhull.
The following quote is a particular interest and reflects the family's ancient heritage. We provide the quote as it was recorded in the language of the times: "Stonor is a 3 miles out of Henley. Ther is a fayre parke and a warren of connies and fayre woods. The mansion place standithe clyminge on a hille, and hathe 2 courtes buyldyd withe tymbar, brike, and flynte; Sir Walter Stoner, now possessor of it, hathe augmentyd and strengthed the howse. The Stoners hathe longe had it in possessyn syns one Fortescue invadyd it by marriage of an heire generall of the Sonors, but after dispocessed." 2
John de Stoner (died 1354), was an early English jurist, "probably born at Stonor, near Sandwich, Kent, for in 1316 he took a release of the lands of Robert de Dumbleton in that county. He was, however, also connected with the manor of Stonor, near Dorchester, Oxfordshire, in the church of which place there is the effigy of a judge bearing his arms. " 3
