A surname most probably assumed from Stanhope in Tweeddale, but it does not appear that those lands ever were possessed by persons of the name (Stodart). Thomas of Stanhope was a resident near there in 1471, and a family of Stanhope possessed Stanhope's Mylne near Edinburgh at the beginning of the seventeenth century. John of Stanhope appears in that quarter in 1479-88-93. Henry Stanehops is recorded in Edinburgh in 1627 (Edinb. Marr.). Stanehop, Stanehope 1606, Stenhop 1607, Stanhopes 1627.

(English) belonging to Stanhope; or Dweller at the Stony or Rocky Hope (Mountain Recess or Hollow) [Old English stán, a stone, rock; and v. Hope1] The parish of Stanhope, Durham, 13th cent. Stanhop, is mostly ‘‘rugged and mountainous.’’

(English) One who came from Stanhope (stony valley), in Durham.

The first recorded ancestor of this knightly and noble family is Walter de Stanhope, whose son Richard died in 1338, or the following year. The name is derived from Stanhope, near Darlington, co. Durham, their ancient residence. See Lord Stanhope's ' Notices of the Stanhopes.' 8vo. 1855.

Local. From the town of Stanhope, in the bishopric of Durham, England. From stan, stone, and hope, the side of a hill, or low ground amid hills.

Or de Colville, a baronial family. See Colville, Northcote. William de Colleville, who came to England 1066, had issue: William, who t. Henry I. was Lord of Colleville, Normandy (MSAN, viii. 430). It was held from Ranulph the Viscount and from the Church of Bayeux. From Philip, his elder son, descended the Lords Colville of Scotland. Thomas de C., the younger son, obtained Eversley or Ifferley, York, where he granted lands to Bylaud Abbey (Burton, Mon. Ebor., 72). He had issue—1. Philip, father of William de Colville or De Everley, who t. Rich. I. granted lands to Whitby Abbey, and was ancestor to the Everleys of Yorkshire; 2. Richard de Everley or De Stanhope. The last-mentioned occurs in Boldon Book 1183 as Richard ‘De Stanhop,’ otherwise ‘De Ifferley or Yresley.’ He held lands at Stanhope from the See of Durham, with the office of Seneschal. His descendants, who bore the name of Stanhope, continued to bear the arms of Colville, viz. a cross, until the loth century, when the present modification was adopted (Collins). Bernard, son of Richard 1199 (Rotuli Curiae Regis), was ancestor of William de S. t. Edward I. (Rot. Orig. Cur. Scac. i. 86), whose son Richard had issue: Robert and Richard, who are mentioned at Berwick 1334, 1345. The latter had Sir John Stanhope, M.P. for Newcastle, who acquired Rampton, Notts., by m. with the heiress of Maulovel, and was ancestor of the Earls of Chesterfield, Harrington, and Stanhope.

(English), Stone hill. Stanton, Stone town.

A location name in Durham.