Explore the Family Name Stephen
The meaning of Stephen
Scottish and English: from the personal name Stephen, a vernacular form of Biblical Latin Stephanus, Greek Stephanos (from Greek stephanos ‘crown’). The modern English form is also spelled Steven; the -ph- spelling is due to medieval clerks’ knowledge of the Biblical Latin form.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Stephen in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname "Stephen" has seen a minor shift between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it ranked 3,655 in terms of commonality, with 8,934 individuals carrying this surname. By 2010, the rank improved to 3,585 and the count increased to 9,925 people, marking an 11.09% increase over a decade. The proportion per 100,000 also saw a slight rise from 3.31 to 3.36 during this period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #3,655 | #3,585 | 1.92% |
| Count | 8,934 | 9,925 | 11.09% |
| Proportion per 100k | 3.31 | 3.36 | 1.51% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Stephen
The ethnic identity associated with the surname "Stephen" showed significant changes from 2000 to 2010, according to the Decennial U.S. Census data. The highest change was noted among those who identify as Asian/Pacific Islander, with an 83.62% increase from 4.70% to 8.63%. Similarly, the Hispanic segment rose by 26.76%, albeit from a smaller base of 2.13% to 2.70%. The proportion identifying as two or more races also grew by 16.06%, reaching 2.24% in 2010. Conversely, individuals identifying as White decreased by 7.88%, although still making up the majority at 61.82%. A small increase of 2.39% was observed within the Black demographic, bringing the total to 24.04%. Lastly, the percentage of American Indian and Alaskan Native identifiers slightly dropped by 13.85%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 67.11% | 61.82% | -7.88% |
| Black | 23.48% | 24.04% | 2.39% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 4.7% | 8.63% | 83.62% |
| Hispanic | 2.13% | 2.7% | 26.76% |
| Two or More Races | 1.93% | 2.24% | 16.06% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.65% | 0.56% | -13.85% |
Stephen ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Stephen is British & Irish, which comprises 46.8% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (20.5%) and Nigerian (4.4%). Additional ancestries include Eastern European, Scandinavian, Southern Indian & Sri Lankan, Italian, and Malayali Subgroup.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 46.8% |
| French & German | 20.5% |
| Nigerian | 4.4% |
| Other | 28.3% |
Possible origins of the surname Stephen
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Stephen have recent ancestry locations all within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 75.00% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 75.00% |
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 75.00% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 75.00% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 74.50% |
What Stephen haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Stephen is R-CTS241, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-CTS241 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include I-L22 and R-Z301, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Hammer, Hope, Mathews, Shaw, Casper, Mathis, Browne, Morton, Webb, Benson.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Stephen surname are: M, H1, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Stephen have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Stephen" Surname 45.3%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Stephen" Surname 24.6%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Stephen" Surname 19.1%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Stephen" Surname 19.8%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Stephen?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Stephen are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition