Stepney Family

The Stepney family are an English family, who having originated in Stepney, London made their fortune in lands surrounding Llanelli, West Wales.

The Stepneys originated from the London suburb of that name, but by the mid-15th century a branch of the family was settled at St Albans in Hertfordshire, subsequently owning the manor of Aldenham from 1546 to 1589. The Welsh branch was established by Alban Stepney, a young lawyer who came to Pembrokeshire in 1559 with his relation by marriage Richard Davies, Bishop of St David's. On 31 December 1561 the bishop appointed him receiver-general of the diocese of St David's, and he also served as its registrar. He established a substantial estate centred on Prendergast, near Haverfordwest, as a result of successive marriages to two wealthy heiresses. He served as a JP and sheriff for both Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire, as well as being elected MP for Haverfordwest in 1572, 1584 and 1586, for Cardigan in 1588, and for Pembrokeshire in 1602. He died on 19 August 1611.

Alban's eldest son John Stepney (b. 1581), was created a baronet in 1621. He was educated at Oxford and Lincoln's Inn, later becoming a JP, sheriff of Pembrokeshire in 1614, and mayor of Haverfordwest in 1620. His brother Thomas became a courtier, was knighted and in 1622 saved the life of King James VI and I when he fell from his horse; one of Sir Thomas’s grandsons was the poet and diplomat George Stepney.

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