I wanted Cosnach but he has no interest in being my steward. Its sad because he's the only person I wanted to do it and I wanted to have his drunken dancing on hand all the time. Can anybody else confirm he definitely doesn't work under any circumstances.

Confirmed to work

Roggi Knot-Beard.

Vorstag from the silver blood inn in Markath also doesnt become a steward.

Just to confirm, I tested to see if Vilkas is essential after "Glory of the Dead" and he is not. I was able to kill him very easily, so he is off my steward list.

The stewarding position is not really that tough, Braggen has had Vilkas as steward of Lakeview Manor for a while and he survived over 10 dragon attacks, mostly by revered dragons. I have not checked his level of health potions lately though, but with all the attacks by dragons, vampires, bandits and dawnguard on that place he and the housecarl seem to manage fine. If that lot could not kill them off I doubt anything else will. Still waiting for the Legendary dragons to start attacking to test that theory out. But Braggen should be better organised by then.

Aussie will be offering Vilkas the position before Glory of the Dead, although I have not made up my mind about where yet. Aussie would get no dragons, so will get to relax while enjoying the country life.

But you can always kill your follower easily unless they are essential. Enemies usually can't kill them (except with lingering poison, stray arrows or magical collateral damage), they will turn their attention elsewhere when the follower is on their knees. Wouldn't that be true even for a follower who are your steward?

I don't know the stats for the new housecarls, but if you want a strong warrior steward, Vilkas is one of the strongest followers in the game - the old housecarls are also very strong.

I'm specifically looking for essential stewards, meaning they can never die, even if the player tries to kill them. Sadly, Vilkas is non-essential after a certain quest, and so is Aela. Cicero is the only other essential, but he is not an option for Steward. Very limited choices for an essential Steward.

You do not need an essential steward, just make sure you do not kill them.

How do I get jordis to be steward in Lakeview manor ( if possible)?

Do the following:

1. Become Thane of Solitude.
2. Have her follow you to Lakeview.
3. She will offer to become Steward.

Ah ok thanks mate.

I wanted Argis the Bulwark but apparently my game is bugged so I can't have him either. Since I declined to purchase the house in Markarth at the time, the dialogue option is not appearing again, even though it's in my quest log. I gave in and started the Civil war quests and sided with the stormcloaks and hoping this will fix the Markarth and Falkreath plot bug.

Its not a matter of need, its what I want. I like to have the best of everything available.

Marcurio does work. In my game he was in the blades then became my steward. Haven't had any issues with him since. Note he does lose his "I can't believe I'm a blade" opening dialogue.

Adding another confimation that Brelyna can become a steward after obtaining her as a follower. It should be noted, though, that dismissing her as a follower even after she moves into your home as a steward causes her to say that she'll "meet you back at the college". I assume this also happens if she moves in with you as a spouse. She does go to your home, however, so it just looks like a little bit of dialogue oversight on Bethesda's part.

This could help:

Followers who qualify are listed below:

• http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Housecarl
  
  • http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Calder
    
  • http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Gregor
    
  • http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Iona
    
  • http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Jordis_the_Sword-Maiden
    
  • http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Lydia
    
  • http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Rayya
    
  • http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Valdimar
• http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/The_Companions
  
  • http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Aela_the_Huntress
    
  • http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Njada_Stonearm
    
  • http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Ria
    
  • http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Vilkas
• http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Dawnguard_(Faction)
  
  • http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Agmaer
    
  • http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Beleval
    
  • http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Celann
    
  • http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Durak
    
  • http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Ingjard
• http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/College_of_Winterhold
  
  • http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Brelyna_Maryon
    
  • http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Onmund
• Other followers
  
  • http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Annekke_Crag-Jumper
    
  • http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Erik_the_Slayer
    
  • http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Faendal
    
  • http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Ghorbash_the_Iron_Hand
    
  • http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Golldir
    
  • http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Illia
    
  • http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Lob
    
  • http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Marcurio
    
  • http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Ogol
    
  • http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Roggi_Knot-Beard
    
  • http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Sven
    
  • http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Uthgerd_the_Unbroken

Yes Erik the Slayer can be a steward but he is a bit bugged:

• Upon arrival at the house he offers to be your steward. If you accept he will at that time not have the normal steward dialogue and instead offer to go adventuring with you again for free but, if you leave him be, he will wander off and do things on the property like any other steward.
  
• If you accept his offer to be a follower, when you dismiss him he says he will head back to Rorikstead but instead returns to the property of which he is steward.
  
• If you leave him at the property and fast travel to go do something else, when you come back he will have the steward dialogue and get you property improvements and building materials. I was actually gone for two game days getting other things done but fast traveling away and returning or being gone for a day may work.
  
• Once he is your "actual" steward with steward dialogue, he still wants to go adventuring with you but asks you to pay 500 septims as if he were a mercenary instead of an employee. This is opposite of how he acts normally in which you pay 500 septims to hire him the first time but then offers to go adventuring with you for free after that.

Next time I am on I will pay his 500 septim fee a second time and see if he stops charging after that.

Update

• After you pay him the second 500 septim fee and go on an adventure, when you release him from service he will at first go back to non-steward dialogue asking to go adventuring again for free.
  
• If you travel off for a day or two, and/or log off the game, when you return, he will again have steward dialogue. Unfortunately he will also be offering to go adventuring with you again for 500 septims.

I am afraid that he will continue wishing for adventure because I am not going to pay him to go off somewhere with me again.

I've also updated the wiki page with some info that I read here:
http://orcz.com/Skyrim_Hearthfire:_Personal_Steward

Dangnabbit, am I the only one torqued off over the lack of beast race representation here?

It's come to the point where, as a Khajiit, if someone calls me, "Cat", I kill him (or beat the crap out of him, if I can't kill him) and pay the bounty. It's beginning to really tick me off, especially since I own land in Skyrim. I'd love to have a Khajiiti steward instead of some Mer or Man idjit.

Yes, I know, it's a Nord/racist land, but for the love of little green dragons, Bethy, show some frackin' love for the beast races for a change, will ya?

This is how the main post should look, and it probably should be stickied.

nice now we just need to get a kids list going.

The UESPWiki.net Skyrim: Followers list has been updated to show which followers can become stewards.

Someone from Dawnguard worked. I found it odd though, I thought DLC content couldn't interact with each other.

It's probably not too difficult when they use the same voices.

FYI----

Marcurio DOES work... Just a heads up.