Stephen is a surname of English, Scottish,[1] and German origin.
The German variant is thought to have originated from the German-speaking world as (Von) Stephan.
[citation needed] Stephen is the 3,845th most common surname in the USA.
[2] MacStèaphain (Scottish Gaelic) Stephen is a sept of the clan MacTavish.
[3] It is believed that Stephens from North East Scotland (Morayshire, Banffshire, and Aberdeenshire) south of the Moray Firth are descended from a Viking named Tarben whose longship landed in Banffshire in the late 10th century CE.