ENGLISH
REFERENCE

stevens

n. countable
C2 Proficiency US //ˈstivənz// stevens
Definition

n. a common English family name. It means 'son of Steven'.

n. a patronymic surname of English and Welsh origin, derived from the personal name Stephen.


SIMPLE

Mr. Stevens is the new manager of the bank.

CONTEXTUAL

The Stevens family has lived in this neighborhood for over three generations, owning the local hardware store.

COMPLEX

In the novel 'The Remains of the Day', the protagonist Stevens represents the rigid adherence to professional duty at the expense of personal fulfillment.

Origin

From Steven + -s (patronymic suffix).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Usage

When referring to a family as a group, it is used with the definite article and a plural ending: 'the Stevenses'.

Pitfall

the Stevens' housethe Stevenses' houseTo make a name ending in 's' plural, add 'es' before the possessive apostrophe.

Last updated May 2, 2026