Estienne is a Medieval French form of Stephen, originating from the Greek name Στέφανος (Stephanos), meaning "crown" or "wreath". This name gained widespread popularity due to Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr, as documented in the Acts of the Apostles. The name was introduced to France by the Normans and became common in medieval times. Historical and Cultural Context As a given name, Estienne was borne by several notable figures in medieval and early modern France. Among them are Estienne de La Boétie (1530–1563), a French philosopher, judge, and writer known for his work "Discours de la servitude volontaire"; Estienne Grossin (fl. 1418–1421), a French composer of the late medieval period; and Estienne de La Roche (1470–1530), a French mathematician who wrote on algebra. Estienne Roger (1665–1722), a French-born printer and publisher, worked in the Netherlands and was known for his music publications. Estienne du Tertre, a composer active in the mid-16th century, also contributed to the name's legacy. The surname Estienne is famously associated with the Estienne family, a dynasty of French scholars and printers. Henri Estienne the elder (died 1521) founded the printing firm; his son Robert Estienne (1503–1559) was a renowned printer and classical scholar; Henri Estienne (1528 or 1531–1598), also known as Henricus Stephanus, was a noted editor and printer of Greek texts; Charles Estienne (1504–1564) made contributions to anatomy; and Nicole Estienne (c. 1542–c. 1588) was a poet. Related Forms Estienne shares roots with other European variants of Stephen, including Stephon (African American), Stephanos (Greek), Stepan (Ukrainian), Estebe and Eztebe (Basque), and the English Stephen. Meaning: "crown" or "wreath" Origin: Greek, via Saint Stephen Type: Medieval French given name Usage: Medieval France