NameCensus.

UK surname

Steven

Derived from the given name Steven, which comes from the Greek name Stephanos, meaning "crown" or "wreath."

In the 1881 census there were 2,277 people recorded with the Steven surname, ranking it #1,963 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,825, ranked #2,391, down from #1,963 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hamilton, Canisbay and Wick. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Caithness North East, Wick North and Wick South.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Steven is 2,839 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 24.1%.

1881 census count

2,277

Ranked #1,963

Modern count

2,825

2016, ranked #2,391

Peak year

1891

2,839 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Steven had 2,277 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,963 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,825 in 2016, ranked #2,391.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,839 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Steven surname distribution map

The map shows where the Steven surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Steven surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Steven over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 1,905 #1,518
1861 historical 2,209 #1,333
1881 historical 2,277 #1,963
1891 historical 2,839 #1,671
1901 historical 2,455 #2,220
1911 historical 870 #5,109
1997 modern 2,369 #2,637
1998 modern 2,445 #2,659
1999 modern 2,532 #2,603
2000 modern 2,495 #2,623
2001 modern 2,416 #2,643
2002 modern 2,504 #2,613
2003 modern 2,475 #2,588
2004 modern 2,474 #2,591
2005 modern 2,473 #2,562
2006 modern 2,453 #2,585
2007 modern 2,498 #2,569
2008 modern 2,527 #2,566
2009 modern 2,598 #2,561
2010 modern 2,686 #2,535
2011 modern 2,606 #2,576
2012 modern 2,590 #2,542
2013 modern 2,682 #2,505
2014 modern 2,742 #2,481
2015 modern 2,772 #2,436
2016 modern 2,825 #2,391

Geography

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Where Stevens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hamilton, Canisbay, Wick, Govan Combination and Arbroath and St. Vigeans. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Caithness North East, Wick North, Wick South, St Andrews South West and Monikie. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Hamilton Lanark
2 Canisbay Caithness
3 Wick Caithness
4 Govan Combination Lanark
5 Arbroath and St. Vigeans Forfar

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Caithness North East Highland
2 Wick North Highland
3 Wick South Highland
4 St Andrews South West Fife
5 Monikie Angus

Forenames

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First names often paired with Steven

These lists show first names that appear often with the Steven surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Steven

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Steven, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Steven surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Steven household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Steven is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Steven is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Steven falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Steven is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Steven, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Steven

The surname Steven is of English origin and dates back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English given name Stæfn, which was a shortened form of the longer name Stæfnweard, meaning "crown guard" or "protector of the crown." This name was commonly used in Anglo-Saxon England and can be traced back to the 7th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Steven can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of land and property ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears in various spellings, such as Steuene, Steuene, and Stephene, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling during that time.

The surname Steven was particularly prevalent in the counties of Essex, Suffolk, and Norfolk in eastern England. These areas were heavily influenced by Anglo-Saxon culture and language, which may explain the popularity of the name in those regions.

In the 13th century, a notable individual named Stephen Langton (c.1150-1228) served as the Archbishop of Canterbury and played a crucial role in the issuance of the Magna Carta in 1215. His given name, Stephen, was a variant of the surname Steven.

During the 14th century, John Steven (c.1350-1419) was a prominent English theologian and philosopher who taught at the University of Oxford. He was a significant figure in the scholastic tradition and authored several works on logic and metaphysics.

In the 16th century, Sir Thomas Steven (c.1500-1560) was a wealthy merchant and landowner from Gloucestershire. He was known for his involvement in the wool trade and his patronage of the arts and education.

In the 17th century, Samuel Steven (1624-1670) was an English clergyman and author who wrote extensively on religious and theological topics. His works, such as "A Plain and Easy Exposition of the Shorter Catechism," were widely read and influential in his time.

Another notable individual with the surname Steven was Sir James Steven (1712-1786), a Scottish architect and designer who was responsible for the construction of several notable buildings in Edinburgh, including the Old College of the University of Edinburgh.

These examples illustrate the long-standing presence and significance of the surname Steven in various regions of England and Scotland throughout history, with individuals from different professions and backgrounds bearing this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Steven families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Steven surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lanarkshire leads with 609 Stevens recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.51x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 609 8.51x
Caithness 283 93.39x
Angus 195 9.51x
Midlothian 175 5.90x
Ayrshire 138 8.33x
Renfrewshire 133 7.75x
Middlesex 76 0.34x
Perthshire 72 7.25x
Lancashire 59 0.22x
West Lothian 57 17.10x
Northumberland 52 1.58x
Dunbartonshire 34 5.72x
Surrey 33 0.31x
Stirlingshire 31 3.80x
Essex 22 0.50x
Kent 21 0.28x
Durham 19 0.29x
Aberdeenshire 18 0.88x
Yorkshire 18 0.08x
Gloucestershire 16 0.37x
Hampshire 15 0.33x
Warwickshire 15 0.27x
Cheshire 13 0.27x
Wigtownshire 13 4.42x
Inverness-shire 12 1.82x
Derbyshire 11 0.32x
Fife 10 0.76x
Staffordshire 9 0.12x
Bedfordshire 8 0.70x
Northamptonshire 8 0.38x
Sussex 8 0.21x
Argyllshire 7 1.14x
Buteshire 7 5.22x
Norfolk 7 0.21x
Leicestershire 6 0.24x
Buckinghamshire 4 0.30x
Selkirkshire 4 2.00x
Somerset 4 0.11x
Berkshire 3 0.18x
Dumfriesshire 3 0.61x
Glamorgan 3 0.08x
Lincolnshire 3 0.08x
Ross-shire 3 0.49x
Cumberland 2 0.11x
East Lothian 2 0.68x
Hertfordshire 2 0.13x
Huntingdonshire 2 0.46x
Kincardineshire 2 0.74x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.07x
Oxfordshire 2 0.15x
Roxburghshire 2 0.50x
Royal Navy 2 0.76x
Sutherland 2 1.18x
Worcestershire 2 0.07x
Banffshire 1 0.22x
Clackmannanshire 1 0.55x
Cornwall 1 0.04x
Devon 1 0.02x
Dorset 1 0.07x
Isle of Man 1 0.24x
Monmouthshire 1 0.06x
Morayshire 1 0.29x
Peeblesshire 1 0.96x
Wiltshire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 169 Stevens recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.33x.

Place Total Index
Barony 169 9.33x
Govan 135 7.63x
Wick 99 101.13x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 81 6.79x
Glasgow 72 5.66x
Dundee 71 9.27x
Canisbay 61 306.53x
Hamilton 53 26.55x
Berwick Upon Tweed 39 55.89x
Bothwell 38 19.57x
Liff Benvie 38 12.21x
Halkirk 34 165.85x
Bathgate 29 40.08x
Bower 29 237.51x
Blairgowrie 28 71.27x
St Vigeans 26 23.49x
Eaglesham 25 237.87x
Rutherglen 25 23.81x
Lesmahagow 21 27.74x
Cathcart 20 21.55x
Paisley High Church 20 14.64x
Blantyre 19 25.50x
Lanark 18 31.25x
Whitburn 18 37.38x
Eastwood 16 15.15x
Thurso 16 33.85x
Cambuslang 15 20.78x
Reay 15 90.25x
Shettleston 15 23.40x
Watten 15 140.85x
Gateshead 14 2.84x
Islington London 14 0.65x
Kilwinning 14 26.17x
Montrose 14 11.27x
Renfrew 14 24.72x
Fenwick 13 148.23x
Kirkintilloch 13 16.09x
Ochiltree 13 114.04x
Aberdeen Old Machar 12 2.80x
Dalkeith 12 20.51x
Dunnichen 12 111.01x
Falkirk 12 6.28x
Forfar 12 10.81x
Hackney London 12 0.97x
Kilmarnock 12 6.09x
Toxteth Park 12 1.35x
Abbey 11 4.20x
Battersea 11 1.35x
Inverness 11 6.62x
Lasswade 11 16.23x
Row 11 14.30x
Dunlop 10 96.81x
Uphall 10 27.28x
Woolwich 10 3.58x
Bethnal Green London 9 0.94x
Muirkirk 9 23.14x
Muthill 9 69.44x
Over Darwen 9 4.29x
Alton 8 23.40x
Arbroath 8 11.77x
Colinton 8 24.20x
Edinburgh St Stephens 8 13.71x
Leamington Priors 8 5.82x
Loudoun 8 20.08x
Northampton St Giles 8 10.09x
Olrig 8 52.84x
Paisley Low Church 8 14.73x
Port Glasgow 8 9.65x
Salford 8 1.04x
South Leith 8 2.40x
Stewarton 8 24.41x
Tulliallan 8 47.53x
Aston 7 0.46x
Baldernock 7 161.66x
Derby St Peter 7 6.34x
Dewsbury 7 3.11x
Edinburgh Tolbooth 7 40.56x
Galston 7 15.45x
Lambeth 7 0.36x
West Ham 7 0.73x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Steven surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Steven surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 28
John 22
James 20
Thomas 13
George 10
Joseph 10
Robert 8
Henry 7
Charles 6
Alfred 5
Walter 5
Harry 4
Alexander 3
David 3
Edward 3
Francis 3
Frederick 3
Peter 3
Richard 3
Somerville 3
Adam 2
Enoch 2
Frank 2
Herbert 2
Hugh 2
Mathew 2
Nicholas 2
Percy 2
Stephen 2
Trayton 2
Alec 1
Andrew 1
Basil 1
Benjamin 1
Can. 1
Cecil 1
Ernest 1
Fredk. 1
Geo.Forbes 1
Gibson 1
Gordon 1
Guy 1
Jas. 1
Leslie 1
Maurice 1
Michael 1
Oswald 1
Owen 1
Patrick 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Steven surname: questions and answers

How common was the Steven surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,277 people were recorded with the Steven surname. That placed it at #1,963 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Steven surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,825 in 2016. That gives Steven a modern rank of #2,391.

What does the Steven surname mean?

Derived from the given name Steven, which comes from the Greek name Stephanos, meaning "crown" or "wreath."

What does the Steven map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Steven bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.