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From the love of valour
(Strength of mind or spirit that enables a person
to encounter danger with firmness)

The chronicles of England , though sometimes shrouded by mists of time, reveal the early records of the name Stephens as a Norman surname which ranks as one of the oldest. The history of the name is interwoven into the colorful fabric as an intrinsic part of the history of Britain.
Careful research by professional analysts using such ancient manuscripts as the Domesday Book , the Ragman Rolls, the Wace poem, the honor roll of the Battle Abbey, The Curia Regis, Pipe Rolls, the Falaise Roll, tax records, baptismals, family genealogies and local parish and church records, shows the first record of the name Stephens was found in Gloucestershire where they were descended from FitzStephen, a Breton knight who was conjecturally descended from Count Stephens of Brittany and accompanied William the Conqueror into England and fought at the Battle of Hastings in 1066.
Many alternate spellings of the name were found. They were typically linked to a common root, usually one of the Norman nobles at the Battle of Hastings. The name, Stephens, occurred in many preferences and from time to time , the surname included the spellings of Stephens, Stevens, Stephen, Steven, Stiven, Steeves and many more. Scribes recorded and spelled the name as it sounded. It was not unlikely that a person would be born with one spelling, married with another, and buried with a headstone which showed another. All three spellings related to the same person. Sometimes preferences for different spelling variations either came from a division of the family, or had a religious reason or sometimes patriotic reasons.
The family name Stephens is believed to be descended originally from the Norman Race. They were commonly believed to be of French origin but were more accurately, of Viking origin. The Vikings landed in the Orkneys and Northern Scotland about the year 870 A.D., under their Chief, Stirgud the Stout. Later, under their Jarl, Thorfinn Rollo, they invaded France about 911 A.D. The French King, Charles the Simple , after Rollo laid siege to Paris, finally concede defeat and granted northern France to Rollo. Rollo became the first Duke of Normandy, the territory of the North Men. Duke William who invaded and defeated England in 1066, was descended from the first Duke Rollo of Normandy.
Duke William took a census of most of England in 1806 and recorded it in the Domesday Book. A family name capable of being traced back to this document, or to Hastings, was a signal honour for most families during the middle ages and even to this day.
The surname Stephens emerged as a notable English family name in the county of Gloucester where they were Lords of the manor at Barton on Wiltshire. All of which were recorded in the Domesday Book taken in 1086 on the Green, Little Sodbury, and Estington in Gloucestershire, and Camerton in Somerset. John Stephens of Tregenna Castle at St. Ives, refused a knighthood by King Charles I and was fined Six pounds. His successor, Samuel Stephens was High Sheriff of Cornwall in 1805. Of note amongst the family at this time was Sir John Stephens of Finglas.
The surname Stephens contributed much to local politics and in the affairs of England or Scotland. During the 12th century many of these Norman Families moved north to Scotland, following Earl David of Huntington who would become King of Scotland. Later, in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, England and Scotland were ravaged by religious and political conflict. The Monarchy, the Church and Parliament fought for supremacy. The unrest caused many to think of distant lands.
Settlers in Ireland became know as the "Adventurers for the land in Ireland". They "undertook" to keep the Protestant faith, and were granted lands previously owned by the Irish. In Ireland they acquired estates in Finglas in county Dublin, Charlville in Wicklow, Chilcolm and Rosbercon in Kilkeeny.
The news of attractions of the New World spread like wildfire. Many sailed aboard the fleet of sailing ships known as the "White Sails".