STIFF
The surname Stiff is recognisably of English origin, deriving from the Old English word stif meaning rigid, stiff or inflexible. It originally appeared as a nickname for a person whose temperament or posture was described as unyielding or resolute.
According to contemporary records, the name was first documented in the late 13th century. The Hundred Rolls of Wiltshire, compiled in 1273 during the reign of King Edward I, record a Robert Stife, whose name is one of the earliest attestations of the surname in England.
Later entries in London church registers provide further evidence of the name’s continued use. The baptism of Rebecca Stiff, daughter of Edmund Stiff, is recorded on 12 October 1572 at St. Dunstan, Stepney; the marriage of Faith Stiff to John Palmer is noted on 25 July 1621 at St. Margaret's, Westminster; and the union of Alicia Stiff with Josephus Guarinova was recorded on 5 May 1625 at St. Peter Paul's Wharf.
The Stiff family was granted a coat of arms, which consists of a shield divided by an embattled chevron. The upper portion displays two silver estoiles against a black field, while the base shows two red tilting spears in saltire set upon a silver background.
While the nickname origin is well documented, scholars have also suggested that the name may have occupational relevance. In the Middle Ages it could have described individuals involved in trades that required making items stiff or solid, such as fabric or cushion manufacture. Another possibility is a topographic derivation, denoting a person living in a steep or precipitous area, or a derivation from a Germanic personal name combining elements meaning battle and peace.
In contemporary Britain and Ireland, surnames of this kind are most often found in the United Kingdom. Within England, concentrations exist in the West Midlands, particularly in Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Shropshire, Staffordshire and Warwickshire. The name is also present, though to a lesser extent, in neighbouring countries such as the Republic of Ireland, Scotland and Germany. In Europe it appears in the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Germany, with notable clusters in Noord-Holland, Limburg and Gelderland. Across the Atlantic it occurs primarily in the United States, especially in Texas, Illinois and Wisconsin; in Canada it is concentrated in British Columbia and Ontario; and in Australia the surname is mainly found in New South Wales and Victoria.
There are a number of spelling variants that stem from the same Old English root. The most common include Stiffe, Stifel, Stippell, Stiefel, Stivel, Stieffell, while less frequent forms are Stypell, Stiffleton, Stefflton, Steffel, Stieffel. Other surnames sharing the same origin are Stiffman, Stiffler, Stifleman, Stible, Stifel, Stively. In Scotland and Germany the name can be seen as Steeples, Steffens, Stipper, Stephs, Stives and in Ireland as Stiffe, Stifft.
Notable bearers of the surname include British music industry executive Pete Stiff and Australian cricketer George Stiff. Their prominence illustrates that although the name is uncommon, it has maintained a visible presence across several professions and geographies.
Typical given names associated with the Stiff surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Jonathan
- Martin
- Matthew
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Robert
Female
- Carol
- Catherine
- Christine
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Jacqueline
- Jennifer
- Karen
- Kathleen
- Kerry
- Rebecca
- Samantha
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Stiff in...
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There are approximately 1,530 people named Stiff in the UK. That makes it roughly the 5,269th most common surname in Britain. Around 23 in a million people in Britain are named Stiff.
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Stiff
- Matthew Stiff - Musician
- Harry Stiff - Tug of war competitor (1881 to 1939)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.