NameCensus.

UK surname

Sterry

An English surname derived from the Old English word "styreġ," meaning forest or wood.

In the 1881 census there were 491 people recorded with the Sterry surname, ranking it #6,865 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 961, ranked #5,985, up from #6,865 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, London parishes and East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Forest of Dean and South Kesteven.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sterry is 1,073 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 95.7%.

1881 census count

491

Ranked #6,865

Modern count

961

2016, ranked #5,985

Peak year

2000

1,073 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sterry had 491 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,865 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 961 in 2016, ranked #5,985.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 810 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Sterry surname distribution map

The map shows where the Sterry surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Sterry surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Sterry over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 313 #7,385
1861 historical 197 #12,166
1881 historical 491 #6,865
1891 historical 626 #6,177
1901 historical 810 #5,571
1911 historical 777 #5,591
1997 modern 1,019 #5,407
1998 modern 1,063 #5,395
1999 modern 1,060 #5,437
2000 modern 1,073 #5,370
2001 modern 1,060 #5,323
2002 modern 1,040 #5,508
2003 modern 993 #5,623
2004 modern 995 #5,627
2005 modern 982 #5,626
2006 modern 982 #5,636
2007 modern 987 #5,666
2008 modern 993 #5,682
2009 modern 1,026 #5,648
2010 modern 1,043 #5,679
2011 modern 1,013 #5,756
2012 modern 987 #5,806
2013 modern 997 #5,841
2014 modern 987 #5,924
2015 modern 972 #5,945
2016 modern 961 #5,985

Geography

Back to top

Where Sterrys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, London parishes, East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H, Longhope and Bedwelty. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Forest of Dean and South Kesteven. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet, Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 3
3 East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H Gloucestershire
4 Longhope Gloucestershire
5 Bedwelty Monmouthshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Forest of Dean 009 Forest of Dean
2 Forest of Dean 004 Forest of Dean
3 South Kesteven 006 South Kesteven
4 Forest of Dean 007 Forest of Dean
5 Forest of Dean 003 Forest of Dean

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Sterry

These lists show first names that appear often with the Sterry surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Sterry

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Sterry, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Sterry surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Sterry household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Sterry is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Sterry is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Sterry falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Sterry is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Sterry, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Sterry

The surname Sterry originates from England and dates back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "sterre," which means "star." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who lived near a prominent star-shaped landmark or someone who bore a star-shaped emblem.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Sterry appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where it is spelled "Steri." This suggests that the name may have initially been a locational surname, referring to someone from a place called Steri or a similar-sounding location.

In the 14th century, the name appears in various forms, such as "Stery" and "Sterry," in documents from counties like Wiltshire and Somerset. This indicates that the name had spread across different regions of England by that time.

One notable historical figure bearing the name Sterry was Peter Sterry (1613-1672), an English theologian and philosopher who was a prominent figure in the Puritan movement. He served as a chaplain in the Parliamentary army during the English Civil War and was known for his mystical writings.

Another individual of note was John Sterry (1594-1662), an English jurist and member of the Long Parliament. He was appointed a judge of the Court of Common Pleas in 1648 and played a role in the trial of King Charles I.

In the 17th century, the Sterry surname appears in various parish records, including those of St. Mary's Church in Marlborough, Wiltshire, where several members of the Sterry family are recorded.

The name Sterry was also associated with several place names in England, such as Sterry Farm in Wiltshire and Sterry's Mead in Somerset, further reinforcing its locational origins.

Throughout history, other notable individuals with the surname Sterry include Thomas Sterry (1675-1744), an English clergyman and scholar, and William Sterry (1647-1719), an English merchant and writer who served as a member of Parliament.

While the exact origins of the name Sterry may be somewhat ambiguous, its long history and association with various locations and individuals across England demonstrate its deep roots in the country's historical tapestry.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Sterry families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sterry surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Gloucestershire leads with 130 Sterrys recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.90x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 130 13.90x
Suffolk 121 20.83x
Surrey 56 2.41x
Middlesex 32 0.67x
Yorkshire 18 0.38x
Monmouthshire 17 4.93x
Sussex 13 1.62x
Warwickshire 13 1.08x
Lancashire 11 0.19x
Devon 9 0.91x
Kent 9 0.55x
Northamptonshire 8 1.78x
Bedfordshire 7 2.83x
Glamorgan 7 0.84x
Hampshire 7 0.72x
Worcestershire 7 1.12x
Durham 5 0.35x
Wiltshire 5 1.19x
Norfolk 4 0.55x
Herefordshire 3 1.53x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.69x
Essex 2 0.21x
Northumberland 2 0.28x
Lincolnshire 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lowestoft in Suffolk leads with 66 Sterrys recorded in 1881 and an index of 240.44x.

Place Total Index
Lowestoft 66 240.44x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 25 146.03x
Westbury On Severn East 22 104.02x
Bermondsey 13 9.15x
Birmingham 11 2.74x
Newington 11 6.24x
South Hamlet 11 189.98x
Yoxford 11 635.84x
Aberystruth 10 32.89x
Huntley 10 1428.57x
Lydney 10 207.04x
Gloucester St Michael 9 420.56x
Camberwell 8 2.63x
Poltimore 8 1702.13x
Rickinghall Superior 8 860.22x
Deptford St Paul 7 5.58x
Lambeth 7 1.68x
Linthorpe 7 24.81x
Lower Llanvrechva 7 207.10x
Luton 7 16.37x
Neath 7 41.42x
Reigate Foreign 7 27.81x
Islington London 6 1.30x
Kidderminster Borough 6 16.46x
Northampton Priory St 6 22.29x
Shimpling 6 750.00x
Soothill 6 35.15x
Southampton St Mary 6 9.76x
Southwark St George Martyr 6 6.25x
Staines 6 79.47x
Bisley 5 58.96x
Boxford 5 462.96x
Brighton 5 3.08x
Broadwater 5 27.10x
Calne 5 57.60x
Gloucester St John Baptist 5 82.78x
Hitcham 5 342.47x
Huddersfield 5 7.26x
Newent 5 105.26x
Toxteth Park 5 2.61x
Acton 4 14.31x
Ampney St Peter 4 1428.57x
Ashfield 4 1081.08x
Limehouse London 4 7.64x
St George In East 4 12.33x
Gloucester St Catherine 3 113.64x
Haughton Le Skerne 3 256.41x
Ipswich St Clement 3 20.31x
St Pancras London 3 0.78x
Wortham 3 193.55x
Wotton St Mary 3 61.86x
Wotton Ville 3 337.08x
Aston 2 0.60x
Beddington 2 22.25x
Blaisdon 2 588.24x
Blo Norton 2 500.00x
Botesdale 2 222.22x
Cheltenham 2 2.77x
Eton 2 30.58x
Farthinghoe 2 344.83x
Great Yarmouth 2 3.29x
Hove 2 5.67x
Little Holland 2 2222.22x
Liverpool 2 0.58x
Newland 2 25.45x
Preston In Tynemouth 2 71.68x
Rickinghall Inferior 2 333.33x
Sibton 2 250.00x
Sittingbourne 2 15.56x
St Marylebone London 2 0.79x
Wavertree 2 11.04x
West Dean 2 13.16x
Ampney Crucis 1 113.64x
Everton 1 0.55x
Great Aycliffe 1 72.99x
Horsley 1 24.15x
Kingston On Thames 1 1.79x
Kirkley 1 20.58x
Oldham 1 0.55x
Stowmarket 1 14.90x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Sterry surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 25
Elizabeth 17
Emma 13
Emily 11
Alice 10
Ann 10
Eliza 8
Ellen 8
Jane 8
Fanny 7
Ada 6
Annie 6
Sarah 6
Margaret 5
Martha 5
Caroline 4
Edith 4
Florence 4
Gertrude 4
Kate 4
Louisa 4
Maria 4
Rose 4
Agnes 3
Charlotte 3
Eleanor 3
Hannah 3
Harriet 3
Julia 3
Amelia 2
Anna 2
Anne 2
Clara 2
Frances 2
Maud 2
Miriam 2
Beatrice 1
Bessie 1
Betsey 1
Caraline 1
Elizh. 1
Elizth. 1
Emeliene 1
Harriett 1
Hellen 1
Honor 1
Isabel 1
Isobel 1
Jemima 1
Zoe 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Sterry surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 27
William 26
Charles 13
George 11
James 9
Robert 9
Thomas 9
Alfred 8
Frederick 6
Walter 6
Albert 5
Harry 5
Samuel 5
Arthur 4
David 4
Edward 4
Henry 4
Joseph 4
Richard 4
Daniel 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Herbert 2
Hubert 2
Leonard 2
Nathaniel 2
Robt. 2
Wm. 2
Arnold 1
Bela 1
Chs. 1
Clement 1
Edgar 1
Eli 1
Ellis 1
Emanuel 1
Emily 1
Ernest 1
Fred 1
Geo.F. 1
Jassel 1
Jno. 1
Josheph 1
Lambert 1
Louis 1
Martin 1
Maurice 1
Miles 1
Oscar 1
Woodward 1

FAQ

Sterry surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sterry surname in 1881?

In 1881, 491 people were recorded with the Sterry surname. That placed it at #6,865 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sterry surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 961 in 2016. That gives Sterry a modern rank of #5,985.

What does the Sterry surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Old English word "styreġ," meaning forest or wood.

What does the Sterry map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Sterry bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.