stˈɑːpfɚd wʌzɐ jˈʌŋɡɚ sˈʌn ʌv dʒˈeɪmz stˈɑːpfɚd, fˈoːɹθ ˈɜːl ʌv kˈɜːtaʊn, ænd hɪz sˈɛkənd wˈaɪf dˈoːɹə pˈɛnɪfˌeɪðɚ, dˈɔːɾɚɹ ʌv ˈɛdwɚd pˈɛnɪfˌeɪðɚ, lˈɔːɹd tʃˈiːf dʒˈʌstɪs ʌv ˈaɪɚlənd.
Stopford was a younger son of James Stopford, 4th Earl of Courtown, and his second wife Dora Pennefather, daughter of Edward Pennefather, Lord Chief Justice of Ireland.