Example "Stapleton" crest

(Possibly the English Version)

History of the Family Name

Gaelic: de stabaltun

Thanks to information by James & Jim Stapleton, two men who contacted me seperately regarding the Stapleton Meaning, they have identified that there are aparently two Stapleton family name origins; one comes from England and one comes from Ireland.  But just to add more confusion, according to Jim Stapleton the name in Ireland also has two origins.

English Versions.

English surnames typically come from one of four categories:

- Your occupation (Smith, Baker)
- A patronymic (Johnson, Davidson)
- A thing (Fox, Stone) or

The oldest names which arose from one's geographic origin...like Stapleton, there was an English village called Stapleton. A "staple" was originally a boulder or large rock, later on it was a post (as you pointed out). These were important because they were readily identifiable landmarks where farmers, bakers, hunters and tradesmen of various kinds came to gather and trade their wares. These meetings at the early "Staples" were essentially for commerce in necessary goods; hence, the word "staples" is used as a collective term, usually for foodstuffs that fulfill basic needs (sugar, wheat, coffee, bread, milk, etc.). So, the Stapletons were, in effect, primitive markets in England, and when a merchant named James was identified, it was usually with his name and place of origin."James Stapleton."

Early Stapletons in England were often in law enforcement and soldiering. Robert de Stapleton was Sheriff of Waterford in the year 1287, another Stapleton was the Sheriff of Nottingham (and well beloved, unlikely the Sheriff in the Robin Hood tales), and an early Stapleton, Sir Brian Stapleton, was a knight for King Richard the Lion Hearted during the Crusades.

King Richard and Sir Brian were both Normans (from northern France), and indeed, it is reputed that King Richard spent less than two years total of his life in England. At any rate, King Richard brought Sir Brian Stapleton as his personal bodyguard to the battles. During one fierce battle, the Kings of England, Scotland and France had massed with their armies at the edge of the battlefield. As the armies went into battle, a Saracen (the Muslim opponent during the Crusades) broke through the lines and charged up on his horse, sword held high. Sir Brian leaped out in front of King Richard, drawing his sword and neatly beheaded the Saracen.

The next day, the English painted the face of the beheaded Saracen onto Sir Brian's shield. Hence, the crest of the Stapleton family is one of just two in England which has the face/head of a human being on it.

Upon return to England, Sir Brian added his weight to the pressure on Prince John to sign the Magna Carta. The motto of the family, as it states in Burke's book of Peerage is "Pro Magna Carta." Incidentally, the English claim that they were the world's first true democracy and point to the Magna Charta ("Great Charter") as evidence of their democracy. When the English describe it, they refer to it as the first document that limited the divine right of kings, but it is much more..actually, it's a pretty horrific document. Jim Stapleton recommends that we should try to get time to read it.

Incidentally, the last Baronet Stapleton died a few years back. The Stapletons suffered through various harsh economic times, and they ended up splitting their crest into four quadrants. This is outlined in Burke's Book of Baronetage and Peerage.

IRISH VERSION:

Although for our line of Stapletons, believed at this stage to be of Irish Decent, I have found the following: The "Stapleton" surname can be found in Ireland going back centuries, it is ultimately of Anglo-Norman origin, it was introduced to Ireland apparently at the time of the Anglo-Norman invasion in 1172.

From Jim Stapletons research, he has identified that King Henry II, who invaded Ireland in 1135 or thereabouts was nicknamed "Strongbow."   Apparently, he was a massive man.  His right-hand man and personal bodyguard was Sir Stapleton (Jim believe his name was Brian), but most interestingly, this Stapleton also had a nickname.  His armor was coal-tinged, and, unlike the other knights who had shiny armor, his armor had a dusky, fearsome appearance.  Hence, his nickname -- "The Black Knight."

At King Henry's coronation, Sir Stapleton was the rough equivalent of his best man, in other words, he stood up for King Henry during the ceremony.  He was the gentleman who was awarded 50,000 acres in what is now Tiperrary and Kilkenny counties.

Ireland itself, however, was the subject of massive emigration from the northern parts of France throughout the centuries as various French were exiled or attempted to escape France for a broad variety of economic, military or political reasons. Generally speaking, the French were usually the enemies or wary allies of the English at best, so those French who wanted to flee usually ended up in Ireland. Several nicknames sprouted up to identify those individuals: one was "black Irish" as those dark haired, olive skinned French mixed with the local fair-haired Irish.

Another Gaelic name was "Stabaltun" or "foreigner." Today, the counties of Tipperary and Kilkenny in Ireland are believed to be packed with Stapletons.

Thus, counties Kilkenny, Tipperary and adjoining counties are the most favoured locations of the name."

BLAZON OF ARMS:
Argent, a lion rampant sable.

IRISH MOTO:
FIDE SED CUI VIDE. "Trust, but in whom, take care".

ENGLISH MOTO:
PRO MAGNA CARTA.

CREST:
A Sararen's head couped at the shoulders sidefaced proper wreathed about the temples argent and sable.

Name Meaning:
"Son of the Foreigner"