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Origins of the Stewart surname

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What does the name Stewart mean?

Stewart is a Scottish surname, where it is still relatively common. The surname Stewart is thought to be occupational, deriving from the Old English word 'stiward' (sty-warden) and refers to the person who looked after domestic animals. This meaning shifted over time to become the person who was in charge of a household, becoming a prestigious title. The most notable Stewarts are believed to have descended from a Breton knight, Alan fitz Flaad, whose son Walter fitz Alan relocated to Scotland and became the High Steward of the nation.

Alternative variations of the name Stewart

Stewart, Stuart, Steward, Stuwart, Stuard

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Where do most Stewarts live?

In 1921, most Stewarts lived in London.


Census records trace your ancestors through each generation, so you can follow where your relatives lived through each decade.

Interesting facts about Stewarts

How common is your surname?

81st most common surname in the UK

We have 362,000 records for the Stewart surname. The oldest one dates back to 1100.

Who were Stewarts most likely to marry?

Smiths

&

Browns

Our Marriage record sets tell us which families married Stewarts.

What are the most common Stewart first names?

  • John
  • James
  • Mary
  • Margaret

Our birth record sets tell us the names of Stewart family members

Common jobs for Stewarts

Men and women often performed different types of jobs, so these are displayed by gender to maintain their historical accuracy.

Common Female occupations for Stewarts in 1921
Dressmaker

2,067

Domestic Servant

1,815

F S

1,367

Housekeeper

1,327

House Keeper

926

Common Male occupations for Stewarts in 1921
Coal Miner

1,876

Farmer

1,705

Tailor

1,454

Farm Servant

1,299

General Labourer

1,236

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We found over 790,000 family trees with the Stewart surname

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