This is an Olde English locational name which derives from residence at a stony place, or house of stone (pre 7th Century 'Ston-halh') or from the village of Stonnal in Staffordshire. The village name is first recorded as 'Stanhala' in 1143 in the reign of King Stephen of England, count of Blois, 1135 - 1154, and later as 'Stonhal' in 1167, in the time of King Henry II. The name development includes Ann Stoenell, 1667, St. Andrews Holborn, whilst in January 1801, Elias Stonall was at Upper Maudlin Street, Moravian Church, Bristol, the first of ten children of Issac and Sarah Stonall. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Richard Stonnell, which was dated 1619, married Beatrice Blanke at St. Gregory by St. Pauls, London, during the reign of King James I of England and VI of Scotland 1603 - 1625. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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