While Steve Urkle made one appearance in season 1, placing Step By Step and Family Matters in the same "universe", Full House is mentioned frequently on Step By Step as being a tv show including a prior episode in season 3 where Cody says he just learned little Michelle is played by twins. This places the cast of Family Matters in two separate television universes.
The title comes from the Charles Dickens' novel Great Expectations which has been the subject of many filmed adaptations.