Steedman

This interesting name is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and has two possible derivations. Firstly, it may be an occupational surname for someone responsible for looking after stallions, a stud farm worker, or one employed to take care of war-horses, perhaps a mounted soldier. The derivation in this instance is from the Olde English pre 7th century "steda", studhorse, stallion, with "mann", man, usually in the sense of (man)servant. Secondly, the surname Steedman may be an occupational name for a farmer or a farm-worker, derived from the Olde English "stede", estate, farm, place, with "mann" as before. Job descriptive surnames originally denoted the actual occupation of the namebearer, and gradually became hereditary. Early examples of the name include: John Stedeman (1275, Worcestershire); Henry le Steademan (1285, Essex); and Robert le Stedman (1323, Staffordshire), while the modern surname can be found as Ste(a)dman, Steedman, Ste(a)dmon and Stedmont. The marriage of Richard Steedman and An Slaughter was recorded at St. Dunstan in the East, London, on June 30th 1653. An early Coat of Arms granted to a Stedman family of Gloucestershire depicts a green cross crosslet on a gold shield. The Crest depicts a demi virgin proper, hair dishevelled, holding in the dexter hand a green cross crosslet. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Roger Stedeman, which was dated 1275, in the "Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire", during the reign of Edward 1, known as "The Hammer of the Scots", 1272 - 1307. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.