The name Stilingfleet reached England
in the great wave of migration following the Norman Conquest
of 1066. It is based on the Norman name Steflingefled.
Early Origins of the Stilingfleet family
The surname Stilingfleet was first found in Yorkshire
at Stillingfleet, a village and civil parish in the Selby district of North Yorkshire
. The place dates back at least The Domesday Book
where it was listed as Steflingefled from the Old English personal name
+ inga + fleot and literally meant "stretch of river belonging to the family or followers of a man called Styfel." CITATION[CLOSE]
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Early History of the Stilingfleet family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Stilingfleet research.Another 217 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1466, 1689, 1635 and 1699 are included under the topic Early Stilingfleet History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Stilingfleet Spelling Variations
The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries. For that reason, spelling variations
are common among many Anglo-Norman names. The shape of the English language was frequently changed with the introduction of elements of Norman French, Latin, and other European languages; even the spelling of literate people's names were subsequently modified. Stilingfleet has been recorded under many different variations, including Stillington, Stillingfleet and others.
Early Notables of the Stilingfleet family (pre 1700)
Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Edward Stillingfleet (1635-1699), a British theologian and scholar from Cranborne, Dorset
considered to have been an outstanding preacher as well as a... Another 30 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Stilingfleet Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Stilingfleet family to the New World and Oceana
To escape the uncertainty of the political and religious uncertainty found in England
, many English families boarded ships at great expense to sail for the colonies held by Britain. The passages were expensive, though, and the boats were unsafe, overcrowded, and ridden with disease. Those who were hardy and lucky enough to make the passage intact were rewarded with land, opportunity, and social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families went on to be important contributors to the young nations of Canada and the United States where they settled. Stilingfleets were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America: Silvester Stillingfleet who settled in Jamaica in 1684.
The Stilingfleet Motto
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Magna est veritas
Motto Translation: Great is truth.