Stewart is a Scottish surname (also used as a masculine given name) possibly of pre-7th century Old English origin, derived from stigeweard, the genitive prefix stige meaning "hall", and the suffix weard meaning "guardian" or "warden". Alternative spellings are Stuart and Steward. The progenitor of the Stewart family was Alan fitz Flaad, a Breton knight who settled in England after the Norman Conquest. His son, Walter fitz Alan, relocated to Scotland during the Anarchy, became the High Steward of Scotland, hence the origin of the surname. Stewart is the 66th-most common surname in the United Kingdom.
One of the hereditary Stewart stewards, Walter Stewart, married Marjorie Bruce, daughter of King Robert I, and founded the royal House of Stuart (a French spelling), beginning with their son King Robert II. The House of Stewart was the longest serving royal dynasty of Scotland. 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) 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.
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, Angus, Galloway, 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, the Stewarts of Garth.
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, all the way over to the west coast of Ireland in cities as far-west as Galway. The Stewarts left lasting families in Ireland, some modern-day Irish still claiming Stewart lineage.
Al Stewart (born 1945), singer-songwriterAlana Stewart (born 1945), former model, now an actress, former wife of Rod StewartAlastair Stewart (born 1952), broadcasterAlec Stewart (born 1963), former England wicket-keeperAlexander P. Stewart (1821 – 1908), American general and professorAlexis Stewart (born 1965), daughter of Martha StewartAlice Stewart (1906-2002), physician and epidemiologistAlison Stewart (born 1966), reporterSeveral people named Andy StewartBelle Stewart (1906–1997), singerSeveral people named Bill StewartSeveral people named Bob StewartBooboo Stewart (born 1994), singer of T-Squad and actorBreanna Stewart (born 1994), American basketball playerBrent Stewart, Manitoba judgeSeveral people named Brett StewartBryanne Stewart (born 1979), Australian tennis playerSeveral people named Charles StewartCrystle Stewart, Miss USA 2008Several people named Daniel StewartSeveral people named David StewartSeveral people named Dennis StewartSeveral people named Donald StewartDugald Stewart (1753–1828), philosopherSeveral people named Duncan StewartEarnie Stewart (born 1969), Dutch-born American soccer playerEd Stewart (1941–2016), British broadcasterEd Stewart (American football) (born 1972), American football playerEdwin C. Stewart (1864–1921), New York politicianE. J. Stewart (1877–1929), American college sports coachE. L. Stewart (1872-1956), American lawyer and state legislatorElinore Pruitt Stewart (1876–1933), American homesteader in Wyoming and memoiristEvan Stewart (born 1975), Zimbabwean diverSeveral people named Frederick StewartSeveral people named George StewartGershom Stewart (1857–1929), British businessman in China, Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) 1910–1923Glenn Stewart (born 1984), Australian Rugby League playerHarry Stewart (1908–1956), American comedianSeveral people named Henry StewartSeveral people named Iain StewartSeveral people named Ian StewartIvan Stewart, US offroad racing legendJackie Stewart (born 1939), former Scottish Formula One driver and triple World ChampionSeveral people named James StewartJean Stewart (born 1930), New Zealand swimmerJ. I. M. Stewart, (1906–1994)Joffre Stewart (born 1925), American poet, anarchist and pacifistSeveral people named John StewartJon Stewart (born 1962), American political satirist, writer, television host, actor, media critic and stand-up comedianSeveral people named Josh StewartJulius LeBlanc Stewart, (1855-1919), American artistKaren Weldin Stewart, Insurance Commissioner of Delaware as of 2009Kevin Stewart (born 1993), English football playerKordell Stewart (born 1972), American football playerKristen Stewart (born 1990), American actressLizbeth Stewart (1948-2013), American ceramistLynne Stewart (1939-2017), American lawyerSeveral people named Malcolm StewartMartha Stewart (born 1941), home economistSeveral people named Mary StewartSeveral people named Matthew StewartSeveral people named Michael StewartSeveral people named Patrick StewartSeveral people named Paul StewartPayne Stewart (1957–1999), golferPerez M. Stewart (1858–1924), New York politicianPotter Stewart (1915–1985), US Supreme Court justiceSeveral people named Robert StewartRod Stewart (born 1945), British singerRosemary Stewart (business theorist)Several people named Scott StewartSeveral people named Thomas StewartSeveral people named Tony StewartTrenton Lee Stewart, American writerSeveral people named Walter StewartSeveral people named William StewartWyatt A. Stewart, career political fundraiser and American businessmanWynn Stewart, singer-songwriter, musicianThe members of the Stewart family who performed as part of Sly and the Family Stone:Sylvester Stewart (Sly Stone) (born 1944), singer-songwriter, frontmanRose Stewart (Rose Stone) (born 1945), singer/keyboardistFred Stewart (Freddie Stone) (born 1946), singer/guitaristVaetta Stewart (Vet Stone) (born 1949), singerStewart Copeland, American drummer, best known as the drummer in The PoliceStewart Granger, English-American actor, born James StewartStewart Lee, English stand-up comedian, writer, director and musicianStewart Mills, Australian Rugby League playerStewart Stevenson, SNP Member of the Scottish Parliament for Banffshire & Buchan Coast, and Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change