Stephens in/from Germany?

Question

I have ancestors from Germany (at least so I have been told) and was wondering are there any people from Germany that have the same last name? And is there anyway to tell for sure besides word of mouth?

Answer 1

Absolutely, there are ways to separate facts from confusion/ word of mouth.  Using valid historical records is the foundation of genealogical research.  Starting with you.. use records (birth, death certificates, etc0 to work back with mom/dad, grandparents.  Don't laugh at using records for what you "know".. the whole point is to find proof, not rely on memories, etc.

The other thing you need to realize.. that you are not just a Stephens (which I don't normally connect with Germany). The German lineage can be from a grandmother.. who is only Stephens by marriage.

Take just a couple of hours, to see how many of these persons you can identify by name, and dates/ locations. With that info, you start learning what records are out there.

Answer 2

I found this for you,

Surname: Stephens

This is a patronymic i.e. "the son of Steven or Stephen", a personal name deriving from the Greek "Stephanos" meaning "Crown". Stephen was a popular name in the Middle Ages having been borne by the first Christian martyr. It is first recorded in England in its latinized form Stefanus (the Domesday Book of 1086). The surnames adopted from the name first appear in the latter half of the 13th Century - Robert Stephen (1260) and Agnes Stiven (1279) - The Hundred Rolls of Buckinghamshire. The patronymic forms Stevens and Stephens are recorded at that time also. An interesting name bearer was Catherine Stephens, Countess of Essex (1794 - 1882), a vocalist and actress listed in the National Biography, who sang at Drury Lane and Covent Garden, London and was 'unsurpassed for her rendering of ballads'. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Alice Stevens or Stephens. which was dated 1279, The Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire. during the reign of King Edward I, 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.

It doesn't give any mention to Germany ?

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Besides word of mouth:

http://christoph.stoepel.net/geogen/en/D... (Click on RESEARCH two times)

http://www.verwandt.de/karten/absolut/st...

And you might even try to research whether their name has been written in a different way when your ancestors were arriving at America:

http://www.verwandt.de/karten/absolut/st...