Stevenson, Stinson
Hello folks,
I have long wondered how the name Stinson or Stenson came to be a version of Stevenson and what the import of that fore-shortening was. (There are Stinsons in my ancestry.) Was there caste implications involved? Anybody know?
Katie Green
Katie,
The idea of a single or correct spelling for a surname or a place name in Ireland is very much a recent phenomenon designed to meet the needs of modern officialdom. Before that there was no consistency. Names were spelled phonetically and each variation was down to the whim of the particular person recording the information. You will often see the spelling change as the records go back. This rarely indicates a deliberate decision to alter the name, nor even a mistake. Not everyone was literate, but even when they were, exact and consistent spelling simply wasn’t something they bothered about. In addition to varying the actual spelling, O’ or Mac prefixes were optional and were often omitted.
In 1899, the Rev Smith reviewed the early records of Antrim 1st Presbyterian church (covering the years 1674 to c 1736). He noted: “Even the same word is not always spelled alike by the same hand. Indeed spelling with most of the recording officials (and they must have been fairly numerous) was a matter of the most sublime indifference. The name William, for instance, is spelled 3 different ways in as many lines; while Donegore, a neighbouring parish, is spelled 10 different ways; but these extend over a good number of years. Many families names are spelled phonetically, while others are given in the most round-about fashion.”
There are also many interchangeable names in Ireland and you can expect to see either version feature in the same family. So it’s wise to search Irish records using both versions.
Examples of interchangeable surnames are: McDowell & Madole, Robertson & Robinson, Kilpatrick and Kirkpatrick, Nogher & Connor, Patterson & Pattison, Faulkner & Falconer, McConnell & McDonnell, Kerr & Carr, Stewart & Stuart, McKinney & Mackenzie, plus obviously Stevenson & Steenson.
Many forenames are also interchangeable eg Jean & Jane, Jenny & Janet, Nancy, Agnes & Ann are all interchangeable, Sally & Sarah, Sheila & Julia, Mary & May, Peggy & Margaret, Peter & Patrick, Sean & John, John & Jack, Edward & Edmund, Henry & Harry, Robin & Robert, Roy & Robert, Kathleen & Catherine. (The famous Scottish poet Robert Burns was never known as Robert to his friends. He was always Robin to them). It’s just something that needs to be taken into account when searching Irish and Scottish records.
As far as Stevenson and Steenson is concerned, you might find it helpful to think about how that name is pronounced and spoken here in Ulster. We speak quickly with the emphasis on the first syllable. So Stevenson & Steenson sound much the same. In the same way, McDowell is pronounced Madole here, so leading to the alternative spelling.
Expect spelling to vary. That was the norm. No caste implications, just the way we speak.
Elwyn
On Sunday, 12 September 2021, 19:16:33 BST, Katie Green via CoTyroneList <cotyronelist@list.cotyroneireland.com> wrote:
Hello folks,
I have long wondered how the name Stinson or Stenson came to be a version of Stevenson and what the import of that fore-shortening was. (There are Stinsons in my ancestry.) Was there caste implications involved? Anybody know?
Katie Green
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Katie Green I am wondering the same thing. Never heard Stevenson was a take off of the Stinson’s. You are further along on our heritage than I am. Hope all is well with you. Carol Burrows Hoffman.
On Sep 12, 2021, at 2:16 PM, Katie Green via CoTyroneList cotyronelist@list.cotyroneireland.com wrote:
Hello folks,
I have long wondered how the name Stinson or Stenson came to be a version of Stevenson and what the import of that fore-shortening was. (There are Stinsons in my ancestry.) Was there caste implications involved? Anybody know?
Katie Green
Send a Message to the List - cotyronelist@list.cotyroneireland.com
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Carol, all I know is what I read at some point years ago, that Stinson derived from Stevenson. Sloppy articulation was more to blame than anything, I now gather. However, I asked in part because I know several instances in which a branch of a family changed the name slightly because of a feud, or to distinguish their line from a lot of others by the same name — probably hoping to avoid confusion, because the same first names were repeated so often.
cheers,
Katie Willmarth Green
On Sep 12, 2021, at 6:01 PM, Carol Hoffman via CoTyroneList cotyronelist@list.cotyroneireland.com wrote:
Katie Green I am wondering the same thing. Never heard Stevenson was a take off of the Stinson’s. You are further along on our heritage than I am. Hope all is well with you. Carol Burrows Hoffman.
On Sep 12, 2021, at 2:16 PM, Katie Green via CoTyroneList cotyronelist@list.cotyroneireland.com wrote:
Hello folks,
I have long wondered how the name Stinson or Stenson came to be a version of Stevenson and what the import of that fore-shortening was. (There are Stinsons in my ancestry.) Was there caste implications involved? Anybody know?
Katie Green
Send a Message to the List - cotyronelist@list.cotyroneireland.com
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Thank you Katie! Good to be back in touch.
Carol Burrows Hoffman
On Sep 12, 2021, at 8:37 PM, Katie Green via CoTyroneList cotyronelist@list.cotyroneireland.com wrote:
Carol, all I know is what I read at some point years ago, that Stinson derived from Stevenson. Sloppy articulation was more to blame than anything, I now gather. However, I asked in part because I know several instances in which a branch of a family changed the name slightly because of a feud, or to distinguish their line from a lot of others by the same name — probably hoping to avoid confusion, because the same first names were repeated so often.
cheers,
Katie Willmarth Green
On Sep 12, 2021, at 6:01 PM, Carol Hoffman via CoTyroneList cotyronelist@list.cotyroneireland.com wrote:
Katie Green I am wondering the same thing. Never heard Stevenson was a take off of the Stinson’s. You are further along on our heritage than I am. Hope all is well with you. Carol Burrows Hoffman.
On Sep 12, 2021, at 2:16 PM, Katie Green via CoTyroneList cotyronelist@list.cotyroneireland.com wrote:
Hello folks,
I have long wondered how the name Stinson or Stenson came to be a version of Stevenson and what the import of that fore-shortening was. (There are Stinsons in my ancestry.) Was there caste implications involved? Anybody know?
Katie Green
Send a Message to the List - cotyronelist@list.cotyroneireland.com
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Last year I was researching the ancestry of Joseph Irvine STEPHENSON (1878-1935) of Newtownstewart, Tyrone for a branch of my family. Despite knowing he was from Fermanagh and the names of some of his siblings I found no trace of his origins and had almost given up the search until I found a single mention of the surname STINSON in connection with the family. Then they all tumbled out of the records.
Joseph STINSON (1844-1927) and his wife Elizabeth (nee WEIR) had a total of 13 children at Agho, Fermanagh, 11 of whom were named STINSON on birth registrations, 1 named STENSON and one record I was unable to find. The children were: Letitia Elizabeth (1874), Harriet Jane (1875), James “Jim” Henry (1877), Joseph Irvine (1878), Emily Katherine (1881), Bamford John (1882), Charlie E (1884), Mary Alice “Lily” (1886), Annie Frances (1888), Rebecca Susan (1890), Robert Edmund (1892), William Wallace (1892), George Reginald (1897).
The first record I found of anyone in the family being recorded as STEPHENSON was the passenger list showing one of the girls returning from New York to Liverpool in 1900. The following year the family at Agho were all recorded as STEPHENSON in the 1901 census despite the last child having been recorded as STINSON at birth only four years earlier. I found two more records of children being recorded as STINSON in the early 1900’s on travel documents but other than that, all later records I found have stated STEPHENSON.
Of the 13 children, the eldest son remained in Fermanagh, 3 children relocated to Tyrone, 7 emigrated to the US, and the destiny of two is unknown.
The oldest surviving descendant of this line, born 1934 in Newtownstewart and the source of all my original information about some of those 13 children, told me she had never heard any reference to the name STINSON and was quite shocked by the revelation.
From: Elwyn Soutter via CoTyroneList
Sent: Monday, September 13, 2021 4:34 AM
To: CoTyroneIreland.com Mailing List
Cc: Elwyn Soutter
Subject: [CoTyroneMailingList] Re: Stevenson, Stinson
Katie,
The idea of a single or correct spelling for a surname or a place name in Ireland is very much a recent phenomenon designed to meet the needs of modern officialdom. Before that there was no consistency. Names were spelled phonetically and each variation was down to the whim of the particular person recording the information. You will often see the spelling change as the records go back. This rarely indicates a deliberate decision to alter the name, nor even a mistake. Not everyone was literate, but even when they were, exact and consistent spelling simply wasn’t something they bothered about. In addition to varying the actual spelling, O’ or Mac prefixes were optional and were often omitted.
In 1899, the Rev Smith reviewed the early records of Antrim 1st Presbyterian church (covering the years 1674 to c 1736). He noted: “Even the same word is not always spelled alike by the same hand. Indeed spelling with most of the recording officials (and they must have been fairly numerous) was a matter of the most sublime indifference. The name William, for instance, is spelled 3 different ways in as many lines; while Donegore, a neighbouring parish, is spelled 10 different ways; but these extend over a good number of years. Many families names are spelled phonetically, while others are given in the most round-about fashion.”
There are also many interchangeable names in Ireland and you can expect to see either version feature in the same family. So it’s wise to search Irish records using both versions.
Examples of interchangeable surnames are: McDowell & Madole, Robertson & Robinson, Kilpatrick and Kirkpatrick, Nogher & Connor, Patterson & Pattison, Faulkner & Falconer, McConnell & McDonnell, Kerr & Carr, Stewart & Stuart, McKinney & Mackenzie, plus obviously Stevenson & Steenson.
Many forenames are also interchangeable eg Jean & Jane, Jenny & Janet, Nancy, Agnes & Ann are all interchangeable, Sally & Sarah, Sheila & Julia, Mary & May, Peggy & Margaret, Peter & Patrick, Sean & John, John & Jack, Edward & Edmund, Henry & Harry, Robin & Robert, Roy & Robert, Kathleen & Catherine. (The famous Scottish poet Robert Burns was never known as Robert to his friends. He was always Robin to them). It’s just something that needs to be taken into account when searching Irish and Scottish records.
As far as Stevenson and Steenson is concerned, you might find it helpful to think about how that name is pronounced and spoken here in Ulster. We speak quickly with the emphasis on the first syllable. So Stevenson & Steenson sound much the same. In the same way, McDowell is pronounced Madole here, so leading to the alternative spelling.
Expect spelling to vary. That was the norm. No caste implications, just the way we speak.
Elwyn
On Sunday, 12 September 2021, 19:16:33 BST, Katie Green via CoTyroneList cotyronelist@list.cotyroneireland.com wrote:
Hello folks,
I have long wondered how the name Stinson or Stenson came to be a version of Stevenson and what the import of that fore-shortening was. (There are Stinsons in my ancestry.) Was there caste implications involved? Anybody know?
Katie Green
Send a Message to the List - cotyronelist@list.cotyroneireland.com
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Hi all
I have a question about name pronunciation and spelling? Would the name
McCoy/McKay be pronounced similar to the name McCoil? I find the name
McCoil in records where I might expect to find McKay. Off course this is
not necessarily true but would help answer some questions if it was. I
am told that MacCoil is another name for MacIntosh but could it have
been rendered McCoy by some way ward scribe? Is the verbal pronunciation
of the name close to that of McKay/McCoy?
Cheers
Ron McCoy
On 2021-09-12 2:16 p.m., Katie Green via CoTyroneList wrote:
Hello folks,
I have long wondered how the name Stinson or Stenson came to be a version of Stevenson and what the import of that fore-shortening was. (There are Stinsons in my ancestry.) Was there caste implications involved? Anybody know?
Katie Green
Send a Message to the List - cotyronelist@list.cotyroneireland.com
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.
So interesting, thank you. Are you able to trace the generation before your Joseph Stinson? My Olivia Stinson, b. ca 1821, married one of the many Hugh Devlins in Ardboe,Tyrone in 1835 — yes, extremely young, and the ceremony was Protestant, he Catholic. Their first child was named Peter, which might help in tracing, but the child died soon, it would seem, since he did not come with them to Canada when they emigrated in 1839.
Katie Green
On Sep 13, 2021, at 5:31 AM, Bruce Newport via CoTyroneList cotyronelist@list.cotyroneireland.com wrote:
Last year I was researching the ancestry of Joseph Irvine STEPHENSON (1878-1935) of Newtownstewart, Tyrone for a branch of my family. Despite knowing he was from Fermanagh and the names of some of his siblings I found no trace of his origins and had almost given up the search until I found a single mention of the surname STINSON in connection with the family. Then they all tumbled out of the records.
Joseph STINSON (1844-1927) and his wife Elizabeth (nee WEIR) had a total of 13 children at Agho, Fermanagh, 11 of whom were named STINSON on birth registrations, 1 named STENSON and one record I was unable to find. The children were: Letitia Elizabeth (1874), Harriet Jane (1875), James “Jim” Henry (1877), Joseph Irvine (1878), Emily Katherine (1881), Bamford John (1882), Charlie E (1884), Mary Alice “Lily” (1886), Annie Frances (1888), Rebecca Susan (1890), Robert Edmund (1892), William Wallace (1892), George Reginald (1897).
The first record I found of anyone in the family being recorded as STEPHENSON was the passenger list showing one of the girls returning from New York to Liverpool in 1900. The following year the family at Agho were all recorded as STEPHENSON in the 1901 census despite the last child having been recorded as STINSON at birth only four years earlier. I found two more records of children being recorded as STINSON in the early 1900’s on travel documents but other than that, all later records I found have stated STEPHENSON.
Of the 13 children, the eldest son remained in Fermanagh, 3 children relocated to Tyrone, 7 emigrated to the US, and the destiny of two is unknown.
The oldest surviving descendant of this line, born 1934 in Newtownstewart and the source of all my original information about some of those 13 children, told me she had never heard any reference to the name STINSON and was quite shocked by the revelation.
From: Elwyn Soutter via CoTyroneList mailto:cotyronelist@list.cotyroneireland.com
Sent: Monday, September 13, 2021 4:34 AM
To: CoTyroneIreland.com Mailing List mailto:cotyronelist@list.cotyroneireland.com
Cc: Elwyn Soutter mailto:elwynsoutter@yahoo.co.uk
Subject: [CoTyroneMailingList] Re: Stevenson, Stinson
Katie,
The idea of a single or correct spelling for a surname or a place name in Ireland is very much a recent phenomenon designed to meet the needs of modern officialdom. Before that there was no consistency. Names were spelled phonetically and each variation was down to the whim of the particular person recording the information. You will often see the spelling change as the records go back. This rarely indicates a deliberate decision to alter the name, nor even a mistake. Not everyone was literate, but even when they were, exact and consistent spelling simply wasn’t something they bothered about. In addition to varying the actual spelling, O’ or Mac prefixes were optional and were often omitted.
In 1899, the Rev Smith reviewed the early records of Antrim 1st Presbyterian church (covering the years 1674 to c 1736). He noted: “Even the same word is not always spelled alike by the same hand. Indeed spelling with most of the recording officials (and they must have been fairly numerous) was a matter of the most sublime indifference. The name William, for instance, is spelled 3 different ways in as many lines; while Donegore, a neighbouring parish, is spelled 10 different ways; but these extend over a good number of years. Many families names are spelled phonetically, while others are given in the most round-about fashion.”
There are also many interchangeable names in Ireland and you can expect to see either version feature in the same family. So it’s wise to search Irish records using both versions.
Examples of interchangeable surnames are: McDowell & Madole, Robertson & Robinson, Kilpatrick and Kirkpatrick, Nogher & Connor, Patterson & Pattison, Faulkner & Falconer, McConnell & McDonnell, Kerr & Carr, Stewart & Stuart, McKinney & Mackenzie, plus obviously Stevenson & Steenson.
Many forenames are also interchangeable eg Jean & Jane, Jenny & Janet, Nancy, Agnes & Ann are all interchangeable, Sally & Sarah, Sheila & Julia, Mary & May, Peggy & Margaret, Peter & Patrick, Sean & John, John & Jack, Edward & Edmund, Henry & Harry, Robin & Robert, Roy & Robert, Kathleen & Catherine. (The famous Scottish poet Robert Burns was never known as Robert to his friends. He was always Robin to them). It’s just something that needs to be taken into account when searching Irish and Scottish records.
As far as Stevenson and Steenson is concerned, you might find it helpful to think about how that name is pronounced and spoken here in Ulster. We speak quickly with the emphasis on the first syllable. So Stevenson & Steenson sound much the same. In the same way, McDowell is pronounced Madole here, so leading to the alternative spelling.
Expect spelling to vary. That was the norm. No caste implications, just the way we speak.
Elwyn
On Sunday, 12 September 2021, 19:16:33 BST, Katie Green via CoTyroneList cotyronelist@list.cotyroneireland.com wrote:
Hello folks,
I have long wondered how the name Stinson or Stenson came to be a version of Stevenson and what the import of that fore-shortening was. (There are Stinsons in my ancestry.) Was there caste implications involved? Anybody know?
Katie Green
Send a Message to the List - cotyronelist@list.cotyroneireland.com mailto:cotyronelist@list.cotyroneireland.com
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Hello All,
Elwyn is entirely correct (thanks Elwyn) regarding the variation in the spelling of Stevenson, Stephenson, Stinson, Steenson etc. My Co Donegal Stevenson forebears have been recorded variously since their arrival from Scotland to relieve the Seige of Derry in 1689. They are recorded as Stephenson in both the tithe applotment books and Griffiths Valuation (although their headstones record Stevenson), but their siblings in Strabane are recorded as Stevenson.
That's Ireland for you. Thanks again Elwyn,
Len
From: Carol Hoffman via CoTyroneList cotyronelist@list.cotyroneireland.com
Sent: Monday, 13 September 2021 9:01 AM
To: CoTyroneIreland.com Mailing List cotyronelist@list.cotyroneireland.com
Cc: Carol Hoffman lpncarol@aol.com
Subject: [CoTyroneMailingList] Re: Stevenson, Stinson
Katie Green I am wondering the same thing. Never heard Stevenson was a take off of the Stinson’s. You are further along on our heritage than I am. Hope all is well with you. Carol Burrows Hoffman.
On Sep 12, 2021, at 2:16 PM, Katie Green via CoTyroneList cotyronelist@list.cotyroneireland.com wrote:
Hello folks,
I have long wondered how the name Stinson or Stenson came to be a version of Stevenson and what the import of that fore-shortening was. (There are Stinsons in my ancestry.) Was there caste implications involved? Anybody know?
Katie Green
Send a Message to the List - cotyronelist@list.cotyroneireland.com
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My interest if not research tasks have now doubled.
I have a James Johnston born in Tyrone about 1800. His wife was Sarah
Stinson. So now I have to see if Stevenson was used by her family. As far
as I have found, James & Sarah had 3 children between 1827-1841. James
Catherine & Ellen. I’m am also gathering titles and links for my research.
On Mon, Sep 13, 2021 at 10:20 AM Katie Green via CoTyroneList <
cotyronelist@list.cotyroneireland.com> wrote:
So interesting, thank you. Are you able to trace the generation before
your Joseph Stinson? My Olivia Stinson, b. ca 1821, married one of the many
Hugh Devlins in Ardboe,Tyrone in 1835 — yes, extremely young, and the
ceremony was Protestant, he Catholic. Their first child was named Peter,
which might help in tracing, but the child died soon, it would seem, since
he did not come with them to Canada when they emigrated in 1839.
Katie Green
On Sep 13, 2021, at 5:31 AM, Bruce Newport via CoTyroneList <
cotyronelist@list.cotyroneireland.com> wrote:
Last year I was researching the ancestry of Joseph Irvine STEPHENSON
(1878-1935) of Newtownstewart, Tyrone for a branch of my family. Despite
knowing he was from Fermanagh and the names of some of his siblings I found
no trace of his origins and had almost given up the search until I found a
single mention of the surname STINSON in connection with the family. Then
they all tumbled out of the records.
Joseph STINSON (1844-1927) and his wife Elizabeth (nee WEIR) had a total
of 13 children at Agho, Fermanagh, 11 of whom were named STINSON on birth
registrations, 1 named STENSON and one record I was unable to find. The
children were: Letitia Elizabeth (1874), Harriet Jane (1875), James “Jim”
Henry (1877), Joseph Irvine (1878), Emily Katherine (1881), Bamford John
(1882), Charlie E (1884), Mary Alice “Lily” (1886), Annie Frances (1888),
Rebecca Susan (1890), Robert Edmund (1892), William Wallace (1892), George
Reginald (1897).
The first record I found of anyone in the family being recorded as
STEPHENSON was the passenger list showing one of the girls returning from
New York to Liverpool in 1900. The following year the family at Agho were
all recorded as STEPHENSON in the 1901 census despite the last child having
been recorded as STINSON at birth only four years earlier. I found two more
records of children being recorded as STINSON in the early 1900’s on travel
documents but other than that, all later records I found have stated
STEPHENSON.
Of the 13 children, the eldest son remained in Fermanagh, 3 children
relocated to Tyrone, 7 emigrated to the US, and the destiny of two is
unknown.
The oldest surviving descendant of this line, born 1934 in Newtownstewart
and the source of all my original information about some of those 13
children, told me she had never heard any reference to the name STINSON and
was quite shocked by the revelation.
From: Elwyn Soutter via CoTyroneList
cotyronelist@list.cotyroneireland.com
Sent: Monday, September 13, 2021 4:34 AM
To: CoTyroneIreland.com Mailing List
cotyronelist@list.cotyroneireland.com
Cc: Elwyn Soutter elwynsoutter@yahoo.co.uk
Subject: [CoTyroneMailingList] Re: Stevenson, Stinson
Katie,
The idea of a single or correct spelling for a surname or a place name in
Ireland is very much a recent phenomenon designed to meet the needs of
modern officialdom. Before that there was no consistency. Names were
spelled phonetically and each variation was down to the whim of the
particular person recording the information. You will often see the
spelling change as the records go back. This rarely indicates a deliberate
decision to alter the name, nor even a mistake. Not everyone was literate,
but even when they were, exact and consistent spelling simply wasn’t
something they bothered about. In addition to varying the actual spelling,
O’ or Mac prefixes were optional and were often omitted.
In 1899, the Rev Smith reviewed the early records of Antrim 1st
Presbyterian church (covering the years 1674 to c 1736). He noted: “Even
the same word is not always spelled alike by the same hand. Indeed spelling
with most of the recording officials (and they must have been fairly
numerous) was a matter of the most sublime indifference. The name William,
for instance, is spelled 3 different ways in as many lines; while Donegore,
a neighbouring parish, is spelled 10 different ways; but these extend over
a good number of years. Many families names are spelled phonetically, while
others are given in the most round-about fashion.”
There are also many interchangeable names in Ireland and you can expect to
see either version feature in the same family. So it’s wise to search Irish
records using both versions.
Examples of interchangeable surnames are: McDowell & Madole, Robertson &
Robinson, Kilpatrick and Kirkpatrick, Nogher & Connor, Patterson &
Pattison, Faulkner & Falconer, McConnell & McDonnell, Kerr & Carr, Stewart
& Stuart, McKinney & Mackenzie, plus obviously Stevenson & Steenson.
Many forenames are also interchangeable eg Jean & Jane, Jenny & Janet,
Nancy, Agnes & Ann are all interchangeable, Sally & Sarah, Sheila & Julia,
Mary & May, Peggy & Margaret, Peter & Patrick, Sean & John, John & Jack,
Edward & Edmund, Henry & Harry, Robin & Robert, Roy & Robert, Kathleen &
Catherine. (The famous Scottish poet Robert Burns was never known as Robert
to his friends. He was always Robin to them). It’s just something that
needs to be taken into account when searching Irish and Scottish records.
As far as Stevenson and Steenson is concerned, you might find it helpful
to think about how that name is pronounced and spoken here in Ulster. We
speak quickly with the emphasis on the first syllable. So Stevenson &
Steenson sound much the same. In the same way, McDowell is pronounced
Madole here, so leading to the alternative spelling.
Expect spelling to vary. That was the norm. No caste implications, just
the way we speak.
Elwyn
On Sunday, 12 September 2021, 19:16:33 BST, Katie Green via CoTyroneList <
cotyronelist@list.cotyroneireland.com> wrote:
Hello folks,
I have long wondered how the name Stinson or Stenson came to be a version
of Stevenson and what the import of that fore-shortening was. (There are
Stinsons in my ancestry.) Was there caste implications involved? Anybody
know?
Katie Green
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