Stevens is of English origin, derived from the Middle English surname Steven, which was an occupational name for a stone mason or builder. It is believed to have been introduced into America by early settlers. The name has also appeared in literature, most notably in Emily Brontë's 'Wuthering Heights' as the first name of one of the characters.
The name Stevens appears to have been quite popular during certain periods with a total of 1301 recorded births over the years 1913 to 2023. The most notable fluctuations occur from the late 1940s onwards, peaking in 1948 and 1989 with 24 and 31 births respectively. However, there are also periods of relative decline, such as between 1957 and 1967 where the number of births per year typically ranged from 8 to 19. More recently, the name's popularity seems to have stabilized around an average of about 6 to 12 births per year since the early 2000s.