This very interesting English medieval surname is recorded as Stanman, Staneman, Stonman and Stoneman. It is believed to be an occupational surname for a stone mason, from the pre 7th century 'stane' meaning stone, and a short form of 'heawan', meaning to cut, plus the suffix 'man', which means in thos context 'one in charge'. In some instances the surname could have been locational and originate from a place called 'Stone', to give the meaning of 'the man from Stone'. There are many placenames throughout Britain called 'Stone' or which incorporate 'Stone' in the name. Early examples of the surname recordings taken from authentic surviving church registers and charters include: George Stoneman, who was christened at Spreyton, Devonshire, in 1572, and John Stoneman who in the same year, was recorded as a student at Oxford University. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Richard Staneman. This was dated 1327, in the Subsidy Rolls of the county of Essex. This was during the reign of King Edward III, and known as 'The Father of the English Navy', 1327 - 1377. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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