Stuart Name Meaning and History
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Scottish: Variant of Stewart: originally an occupational name for an administrative official of an estate, from Middle English stiward, Old English stigweard, stiweard, a compound of stig "house(hold)" + weard "guardian". In Old English times this title was used of an officer controlling the domestic affairs of a household, especially of the royal household; after the Conquest it was also used more widely as the native equivalent of Seneschal for the steward of a manor or manager of an estate.
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Dictionary of American Family Names, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-508137-4
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The Origins old family name of Stuart can be found within medieval Scotland. While the patronymic and metronymic surnames, which are derived from the name of the father and mother respectively, are the most common form of a hereditary surname in Scotland, occupational surnames also emerged during the late Middle Ages. Many people, such as the Stuart family, adopted the name of their occupation as their surname. However, an occupational name did not become a hereditary surname until the office or type of employment became hereditary. The surname Stuart was an occupational name for a steward, the official in charge of a noble household and its treasury. One common alternate spelling of the name is a result of the influence of Mary, Queen of Scots, who was educated in France, and consequently spelled the name Steuart or Stuart. Spelling variations of this family name include: Stuart, Steuart, Stuard, Sturt and others.
Our Stuart family line in America begins with Nancy Stuart (sometimes spelled Stewart) who was born in Bangor, Downs County, Ireland (Northern Ireland). Nancy and her daughters (Anna, Elizabeth, Jane, Matilda and Margaret) immimigrated to the United States from Scotland. Their immigration was financed by the Perpetual Emigrating Fund Company, Great Salt Lake City, Utah Territory. The Stuarts were among the pioneers on the first expedition of the Mormon Handcart Trail in 1856. See the Resources page (link below) to read notes and view documents.
View the Stuart charts
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