Stephen (surname)

Stephen is a surname of English, Scottish,^[1] and German origin. It is a reasonably common surname. The German variant is thought to have originated from the German-speaking world as (Von) Stephan.^{[citation needed]}

Stephen is the 3,845th most common surname in the USA.^[2]

MacStèaphain (Scottish Gaelic) Stephen is a sept of the clan MacTavish.^[3] It is believed that Stephens from North East Scotland (Morayshire, Banffshire, and Aberdeenshire) south of the Moray Firth are descended from a Viking named Tarben whose longship landed in Banffshire in the late 10th century CE. His name was Christianized to Stephen.^{[citation needed]}