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A Short History of the Van Stavern Family Name by Rob Van Stavern The name is as old and hard to trace as any name in any history book. It has varied its spelling from time to time because of the different languages spoken. The ancient Frieslandic spelling of the village in the Netherlands is Starum. The current Dutch town in Friesland state is spelled either Stavoren or Staveren. There is a town in southern Norway by the same name and the names are all generally thought to be derived from from the Viking storm god Stavo. This area was frequented by Viking raiders and traders and was called Starum by early Friesians. It became a city state as early as 1060 and was once ruled by an Emeror Henry V. Stavoren. In its zenith, Stavoren was known as the Venice of Holland and was a very prosperious seaport. Stavoren, Staveren, or Starum was one of 11 Frisian cities and it was first settled in 900 AD, gained city rights in 1118, it was a member of Hanseatic league in 1385 and fell into decay at the end of the middle ages. The most widely known account for the downfall of Stavoren has been chronicled in the the legend of 'het vrouwtje van Stavoren" (the lady of Stavoren http://www.aaronshep.com/stories/017.html). A folk tale of a wealthy female merchant who ordered one of her suitors, a ship's captain, to look for the most precious material in the world; when he returned with a load of grain, she became furious and ordered it to be thrown into the sea. On that place a sandbank was formed, eventually blocking the harbor and Stavoren's glory. The first glimpse of Friesland one gets when crossing the Zuider Zee is of Staveren (once called the capital of kings). Staveren is a very dead city today of only about 1000 inhabitants (mostly summer homes). Staveren became part of the municipality of Nijefurd in 1984. Today, much of the area is made up of inland farms formed by the dykes and polders reclaiming the land from the sea; the town of Staveren, itself, is a small resort village. A another old story of Staveren has been told that to own the seaport was to rule all of Holland. During its golden age, William II of France invaded Holland and was killed in the process. William the IV attempted to subjugate the independent state of Friesland and invaded with 1 duke, 13 counts, 52 baron, 1300 knights, and over 28,000 handpicked soldiers. His army was defeated and William IV was killed during that battle. A reference source called "Planches de Lamorial by J. B. Reitstap lists a coat of arms granted to this name. It was recorded by the heralds, and this record is one of the few existing links between today and the past. The shape of this shield is of the earliest bearer of heraldic cognizance, dating back to the year 1150. The heraldic description (graphic representation of the arms on this and other pages) of the name, translated from classical languages in the reference source has been grafically interpreted and approved by the confirming officer of the Sanson Institute of Heraldry of Boston, Massachusetts, 263 Summer St. Arms: "Per pale or and vert, in dexter a demi eagle displayed sable, in sinister 2 staffs in saltire, bannered argent" The purpose of this family history is to provide family and others interested in information about the rich heritage of our family. They may use any part of this history as they see fit. Sincerely, RobRob Van Stavern, Major Dad (aka Popi) "Attitude is Everything"
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