Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Stithenæce c.1060 WDB

• Stithenhache 1200 FF

• Stithenac' 1201 Cur

• Stithenache 1204 FF 1428 FA

• Stidenach' 1203 Cur

• Stithenhach 1229 Pat

• Stitenache t.Hy3 BM 1428 FA

• Stihenhache 1302–8 Gesta

• Sticenæce 1066 KCD824 14th

• Stigenace 1086 DB

• Stivenach(e) 1201 Cur 1320 FF

• Stivenhache 1278 Ass 1303 BM

• Stitheneche 1230 FF 1259 Pat

• Stepenacth 1275 RH

• Stevenach(e) c.1295 Gesta 1326,1451 WAM 1330 Ch

• Stebenhach 1443 ADii

• Stevenachestret 1451 WAM

• Stevenassh 1452 Pat

• Stethenhach 1293 WAM

• Stephenhache 1368 Pat

• Stephyn Hache 1527 FF

• Stevenage 1511 ib

• Stevennage 1535 VE

• Stephnage 1617 FF

Etymology

'At the stiff (i.e. strong or firm) oak,' v. ac . The first element is OE  stiðe. The series of forms set forth here make æc , dative singular of ac , more likely than hæcc , as suggested in DEPN (s. n .). For early confusion of th and v , cf. the history of Alvechurch (PN Wo 332) and Aveley (PN Ess 120).