Daily AncestorSte.
Ste. is an old abbreviation of the first name Stephen, found in deeds, wills, church registers and census pages.
Ste. is a clerk's shortening of the given name Stephen. Busy writers cut common first names down to a few letters, often raising the last letters above the line, and the habit runs through deeds, wills, tax lists and census pages.
Ste. can also be French Sainte (a female saint) in place names, so a birthplace column needs a second look. In a name column it is usually Stephen.
As seen in a recordGrantor line of a Virginia deed
Ste. Hall, Gent., to Jno. Hall
Sources
How to cite this page
Daily Ancestor. "Ste.." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/abbreviations/ste. Last checked 2026-10-01.