Staples History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Staples is a name that was brought to England by the ancestors of the Staples family when they migrated to the region after the Norman Conquest in 1066. The Staples family lived in Kent having derived from the Old French word estaple, meaning market-place, and indicates a person who lived near such a place. Another source claims that the name literally meant “dweller by a post or posts,” from the Old English word stapol, meaning “post” or “pillar.” [1]

Early Origins of the Staples family

The surname Staples was first found in Kent at Staple-next-Wingham, a parish, in the union of Eastry, hundred of Downhamford, lathe of St. Augustine. This place name dates back to 1205 when it was first listed as Staples. [2] The first record of the name was Robert de Stapel who was listed there in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. [3]

The Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire listed Walter de Stapel in 1275, and Osmund atteStaple was listed in Place Names of Surrey in 1279. Richard de Staples and John Stapel were both listed in the Feet of Fines of Essex in 1321. [1]

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 list: Robertus Staple, mercer; and Willwelmus Staple. [3]

Staple-Fitzpaine is a parish, in the union of Taunton, hundred of Abdick and Bulstone, W. division of Somerset. The Fitzpaine family added the suffix in the 14th century so it is unlikely that the Staples family originated there. [4] However, this latter place name does date back to the Domesday Book of 1086 when it was first listed as Staple. [5]

Early History of the Staples family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Staples research.

Staples Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence in the eras before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate regularly changed the spellings of their names as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Staples have been found, including Staple, Staples, Stapel, Stapels, Stapell, Stapelle, Stapells and many more.

Early Notables of the Staples family (pre 1700)

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Edward Staple or Staples (1490?-1560?), Bishop of Meath, born probably about 1490, is said to have been a native of Lincolnshire or Lancashire. In 1530, at King Henry’s request, the Pope provided Staples to the bishopric of Meath.

Staples Ranking

In the United States, the name Staples is the 1,782^nd most popular surname with an estimated 17,409 people with that name. [6]

 Migration of the Staples family to Ireland

Some of the Staples family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.

 Staples migration to the United States +

For many English families, the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. For such families, the shores of Ireland, Australia, and the New World beckoned. They left their homeland at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. Many arrived after the long voyage sick, starving, and without a penny. But even those were greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. Numerous English settlers who arrived in the United States and Canada at this time went on to make important contributions to the developing cultures of those countries. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Staples were among those contributors: 

Staples Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• Richard Staples, with his wife and child, with two maids and six men, settled in Virginia in 1622
• Richard Staples, who arrived in Virginia in 1622 [7]
• Richard Staples, who arrived in Virginia in 1650 [7]
• Elizabeth Staples, who settled in Virginia in 1651
• Eliza Staples, who landed in Virginia in 1651 [7]