Stewart is a Scottish and English

surname In many societies, a surname, family name, or last name is the mostly hereditary portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family. It is typically combined with a given name to form the full name of a person, although several give ...

, also used as a

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a f ...

. It is possibly derived from the old English word "stigweard", a compound of "stig" meaning household, and "weard", a guardian (ward), or from the Gaelic ''Stiùbhart'' meaning '' steward.'' Alternative spellings are Stuart, Steward and Steuart. The surname Stewart has large concentrations in the United States (mainly in the

Deep South The Deep South or the Lower South is a cultural and geographic subregion of the Southern United States. The term is used to describe the states which were most economically dependent on Plantation complexes in the Southern United States, plant ...

, and the other southern states), United Kingdom (mainly in

Scotland Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...

Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ; ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, part of the United Kingdom in the north-east of the island of Ireland. It has been #Descriptions, variously described as a country, province or region. Northern Ireland shares Repub ...

, North East England,

South West England South West England, or the South West of England, is one of the nine official regions of England, regions of England in the United Kingdom. Additionally, it is one of four regions that altogether make up Southern England. South West England con ...

Cumbria Cumbria ( ) is a ceremonial county in North West England. It borders the Scottish council areas of Dumfries and Galloway and Scottish Borders to the north, Northumberland and County Durham to the east, North Yorkshire to the south-east, Lancash ...

Lancashire Lancashire ( , ; abbreviated ''Lancs'') is a ceremonial county in North West England. It is bordered by Cumbria to the north, North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire to the east, Greater Manchester and Merseyside to the south, and the Irish Sea to ...

, and

Yorkshire Yorkshire ( ) is an area of Northern England which was History of Yorkshire, historically a county. Despite no longer being used for administration, Yorkshire retains a strong regional identity. The county was named after its county town, the ...

), Canada, Jamaica, New Zealand, Australia and elsewhere that has large Scottish or Ulster Scots diaspora. The progenitor of the Stewart family was

Alan fitz Flaad Alan fitz Flaad (c. 1060 – after 1120) was a Bretons, Breton knight, probably recruited as a mercenary by Henry I of England in his conflicts with his brothers. After Henry became King of England, Alan became an assiduous courtier and obtained ...

, a Breton knight who settled in England after the

Norman Conquest The Norman Conquest (or the Conquest) was the 11th-century invasion and occupation of England by an army made up of thousands of Normans, Norman, French people, French, Flemish people, Flemish, and Bretons, Breton troops, all led by the Du ...

. His son, Walter fitz Alan, relocated to

during the Anarchy and became the High Steward of Scotland, hence the origin of the surname. In 2014, Stewart was the 66th-most common surname in the United Kingdom. Retrieved 19 January 2014

House of Stewart

One of the hereditary Stewart stewards, Walter Stewart, married Marjorie Bruce, daughter of King Robert I, and founded the royal House of Stewart, beginning with their son King Robert II. The House of Stewart was the longest serving royal dynasty of Scotland.

Mary, Queen of Scots Mary, Queen of Scots (8 December 1542 – 8 February 1587), also known as Mary Stuart or Mary I of Scotland, was List of Scottish monarchs, Queen of Scotland from 14 December 1542 until her forced abdication in 1567. The only surviving legit ...

formalised the use of the spelling Stuart, while resident in France, in order to preserve the correct pronunciation. In 1603, the Stewart King James VI of Scotland became King James I of England and Wales by his succession to Queen Elizabeth I. The Stewart dynasty ruled Scotland, England and Wales (with an interruption during Cromwell's Commonwealth after the

English Civil War The English Civil War or Great Rebellion was a series of civil wars and political machinations between Cavaliers, Royalists and Roundhead, Parliamentarians in the Kingdom of England from 1642 to 1651. Part of the wider 1639 to 1653 Wars of th ...

) until 1714, when Queen Anne died and the British Crown passed to the German Electors of Hanover. The grandson of James II, Prince Charles Edward Stuart, led the last attempt to restore the Stewart dynasty to the British Crown in 1745-6 and became known to history as " Bonnie Prince Charlie". This attempted coup d'état ended in the slaughter of Charles' army at the Battle of Culloden in April, 1746.

Stewart peers

In addition to the Royal House of Stuart, various branches of the Stewart family became Scottish peers, at various times holding the Marquisate of Bute, the earldoms of Atholl, Mar,

Moray Moray ( ; or ) is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland. It lies in the north-east of the country, with a coastline on the Moray Firth, and borders the council areas of Aberdeenshire and Highland. Its council is based in Elgin, the area' ...

, Angus,

Galloway Galloway ( ; ; ) is a region in southwestern Scotland comprising the counties of Scotland, historic counties of Wigtownshire and Kirkcudbrightshire. It is administered as part of the council areas of Scotland, council area of Dumfries and Gallow ...

, as well as several Lordships of Parliament. Several families of Stewarts became Highland clans in their own right, including the Stewarts of Appin, the Stewarts of Ardvorlich, the Stewarts of Atholl and the Stewarts of Garth.

Diaspora

Many Stewart emigrants from the lowlands of Scotland settled in the Irish province of Ulster in the seventeenth century. Stewarts also emigrated from other parts of Scotland and settled throughout the rest of Ireland.

People named Stewart

Surname

* Adam Stewart (disambiguation), multiple people * Al Stewart (born 1945), Scottish singer-songwriter * Alana Stewart (born 1945), American actress, former wife of Rod Stewart * Alastair Stewart (born 1952), British journalist and broadcaster *

Alec Stewart Alec James Stewart (born 8 April 1963) is an English former cricketer, and former captain of the England cricket team, who played Test cricket and One Day Internationals as a right-handed wicket-keeper-batsman. He is the fifth-most- capped En ...

(born 1963), British cricketer, kept wicket for England * Alexander P. Stewart (1821–1908), American general and professor * Alexander William Stewart (1865–1933), Scottish naval architect, engineer and inventor * Alexis Stewart (born 1965), American talk radio host, daughter of Martha Stewart * Alice Stewart (1906–2002), British physician and epidemiologist * Alice Stewart (commentator) (1966–2024), American political commentator * Alison Stewart (born 1966), American journalist * Andy Stewart (disambiguation), multiple people * Anthony Stewart (disambiguation), multiple people * April Stewart (born 1969), American actress * ArDarius Stewart (born 1993), American football player * Belle Stewart (1906–1997), Scottish singer * Bob Stewart (disambiguation), multiple people * Booboo Stewart (born 1994), American singer of T-Squad and actor * Breanna Stewart (born 1994), American basketball player * Brent Stewart, Manitoba judge * Brett Stewart (born 1985), Australian rugby league footballer * Brian Stewart (disambiguation), multiple people * Brock Stewart (born 1991), American baseball player * Bryan Stewart (born 1985), English footballer * Bryanne Stewart (born 1979), Australian tennis player * Calvin Stewart (born 1946), Jamaican footballer * Calum Stewart (born 1982), Scottish musician * Catherine Mary Stewart, Canadian actress * Charles Stewart (disambiguation), multiple people * Charlotte Stewart, American film and television actress * Corbet Page Stewart (1896–1962), Scottish biochemist * Corey Stewart (disambiguation), multiple people * Crystle Stewart, Miss USA 2008 * Daniel Stewart (disambiguation), multiple people * Darrell Stewart (American football) (born 1996), American football player * David Stewart (disambiguation), multiple people * Dennis Stewart (disambiguation), multiple people * Derek Stewart (footballer) (born 1948), Scottish footballer * DJ Stewart (born 1993), American baseball player * D.J. Stewart Jr. (born 1999), American basketball player * Donald Stewart (disambiguation), multiple people * Dugald Stewart (1753–1828), Scottish philosopher * Duncan Stewart (disambiguation), multiple people * Dylan Stewart (born 2005), American football player * Earnie Stewart (born 1969), Dutch-born American soccer player * Ed Stewart (1941–2016), British broadcaster * Ed Stewart (American football) (born 1972), American football player * Edwin C. Stewart (1864–1921), New York politician * E. J. Stewart (1877–1929), American college sports coach * Elijah Stewart (born 1995), American basketball player in Israeli Basketball Premier League * Elinore Pruitt Stewart (1876–1933), American homesteader in Wyoming and memoirist * Evan Stewart (disambiguation), multiple people * G. Fowler Stewart (1861–1917), businessman in South Australia * Frederick Stewart (disambiguation), multiple people * Gary Stewart (disambiguation), multiple people * Gay Stewart, American physicist * George Stewart (disambiguation), multiple people * Gershom Stewart (1857–1929), British businessman in China, Conservative MP * Glenn Stewart (born 1984), Australian Rugby League player * Grace Campbell Stewart (died 1863), British painter * Grover Stewart (born 1993), American football player * Haldane Stewart (1868–1942), English musician and cricketer * Harriet Bradford Tiffany Stewart (1798–1830), American missionary * Harry Stewart (1908–1956), American comedian * Helen Stewart (disambiguation), multiple people * Henry Stewart (disambiguation), multiple people * Homer Joseph Stewart (1915–2007), American aeronautical engineer * Iain Stewart (disambiguation), multiple people * Ian Stewart (disambiguation), multiple people * Isaiah Stewart (born 2001), American basketball player * Ivan Stewart, American racing driver * Jackie Stewart (born 1939), Scottish Formula One driver * Jacqueline Stewart (born 1970), American scholar of cinema studies and television host * James Stewart (disambiguation), multiple people * Jane Agnes Stewart (1860–1944), American author, editor * Janet Cumbrae Stewart (1883–1960), Australian painter * Jasmin Stewart (born 1998), Australian rules footballer * Jaylin Stewart (born 2005), American basketball player * Jean Stewart (disambiguation), multiple people * Jermaine Stewart (1957–1997), American R&B and pop singer * J. I. M. Stewart (1906–1994), Scottish novelist writing as Michael Innes * Joffre Stewart (1925–2019), American poet, anarchist and pacifist * John Stewart (disambiguation), multiple people * Jon Stewart (born 1962), American political satirist * Jorge Stewart, Argentine rugby union player * Josh Stewart (disambiguation), multiple people * Josaiah Stewart (born 2003), American football player * Julius LeBlanc Stewart (1855–1919), American artist * Kaleb Stewart (1975–2021), American musician * Karen Weldin Stewart, Insurance Commissioner of Delaware * Kevin Stewart (footballer) (born 1993), English football player * Kordell Stewart (born 1972), American football player * Kristen Stewart (born 1990), American actress * LeConte Stewart (1891–1990), American artist * Lizbeth Stewart (1948–2013), American ceramist * Lori Stewart Gonzalez (born 1957), American speech pathologist and academic administrator * Lynne Stewart (1939–2017), American lawyer and criminal * Lynne Marie Stewart (1946–2025), American actress * M. J. Stewart (born 1995), American football player * Malcolm Stewart (disambiguation), multiple people * Martha Stewart (born 1941), American businesswoman, writer and television personality * Marvin Stewart (1912–2009), American football player * Marvin Stewart (basketball), American basketball player * Mary Stuart (disambiguation), multiple people * Matthew Stewart (disambiguation), multiple people * Michael Stewart (disambiguation), multiple people * Monica Faith Stewart (born 1952), American politician * Nellie Stewart (1858–1931), Australian stage actress * Oliver W. Stewart (1867–1937), American politician * Patrick Stewart (disambiguation), multiple people * Paul Stewart (disambiguation), multiple people * Payne Stewart (1957–1999), American golfer * Perez M. Stewart (1858–1924), New York politician * Rena Stewart (1923–2023), Scottish World War II codebreaker and journalist * Potter Stewart (1915–1985), US Supreme Court justice * Richard Stewart (born 1959) mayor of Coquitlam, British Columbia * Richard Stewart (theatre) (1827–1902), Australian stage actor * Robert Stewart (disambiguation), multiple people *

Rod Stewart Sir Roderick David Stewart (born 10 January 1945) is a British singer and songwriter. Known for his distinctive raspy singing voice, Stewart is among the List of best-selling music artists, best-selling music artists of all time, having sold ...

(born 1945), British singer * Rosemary Stewart (business theorist) (1924–2015), British researcher and writer in business management * Roy Mackenzie Stewart (1889–1964), British neurologist * Samuel Swaim Stewart (1855–1898), known as S. S. Stewart, American musician, publisher, banjo manufacturer * Scott Stewart (disambiguation), multiple people * Sean Stewart (basketball) (born 2005), American basketball player * Shemar Stewart (born 2003), American football player * Terion Stewart (born 2001), American football player * Thomas Stewart (disambiguation), multiple people * Tony Stewart (disambiguation), multiple people * Trenton Lee Stewart, American writer * Walter Stewart (disambiguation), multiple people * William Stewart (disambiguation), multiple people * Wyatt A. Stewart, American businessman and career political fundraiser * Wynn Stewart (1934–1985), American country music singer-songwriter and musician * American family members of

Sly and the Family Stone Sly and the Family Stone was an American band formed in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, in 1966 and active until 1983. Their work, which blended elements of funk, soul music, soul, psychedelic rock, gospel music, gospel, and R&B, becam ...

: ** Sylvester Stewart (

Sly Stone Sylvester Stewart (March 15, 1943 – June 9, 2025), better known by his stage name Sly Stone, was an American musician, songwriter and record producer. He was the frontman of Sly and the Family Stone, playing a critical role in the development ...

) (born 1944), singer-songwriter, frontman ** Rose Stewart ( Rose Stone) (born 1945), singer/keyboardist ** Fred Stewart ( Freddie Stone) (born 1946), singer/guitarist ** Vaetta Stewart ( Vet Stone) (born 1949), singer

Given name

* Stewart Copeland, American drummer, best known as the drummer in The Police * Stewart Granger, English-American actor, born James Stewart * Stewart Lee, English stand-up comedian, writer, director and musician * Stewart Mills, Australian Rugby League player * Stewart Stevenson, SNP Member of the Scottish Parliament for Banffshire & Buchan Coast, and Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change

Fictional characters

* John Stewart, a DC Comics character, one of the Green Lanterns * Stewart Gilligan Griffin, a Family Guy character *Stewart, a character in the 1987 American comedy movie '' Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise'' *Stewart Stevenson, a character in ''

Beavis and Butt-Head ''Beavis and Butt-Head'' is an American Adult animation, adult animated Animated sitcom, sitcom created by Mike Judge. The series follows Beavis and Butt-Head, both voiced by Judge, a pair of teenage slackers characterized by their apathy, Stupi ...

References

{{given name, type=both Anglicised Scottish Gaelic-language surnames English masculine given names Masculine given names English-language surnames Occupational surnames Surnames of English origin English given names Surnames of Scottish origin Scottish given names Scottish masculine given names