NameCensus.

UK surname

Sturch

A topographic surname derived from a place name referring to wooded valleys or gorges.

In the 1881 census there were 191 people recorded with the Sturch surname, ranking it #13,224 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 277, ranked #15,619, down from #13,224 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Shipston-on-Stour, Deddington and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Birmingham, Walsall and Sheffield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sturch is 306 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 45.0%.

1881 census count

191

Ranked #13,224

Modern count

277

2016, ranked #15,619

Peak year

2002

306 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sturch had 191 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,224 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 277 in 2016, ranked #15,619.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 287 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Sturch surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sturch surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sturch 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 161 #12,288
1861 historical 129 #17,271
1881 historical 191 #13,224
1891 historical 216 #14,107
1901 historical 265 #12,652
1911 historical 287 #11,784
1997 modern 274 #14,374
1998 modern 295 #14,029
1999 modern 297 #14,053
2000 modern 299 #13,937
2001 modern 294 #13,896
2002 modern 306 #13,835
2003 modern 294 #14,002
2004 modern 284 #14,377
2005 modern 276 #14,579
2006 modern 281 #14,500
2007 modern 275 #14,888
2008 modern 279 #14,860
2009 modern 288 #14,838
2010 modern 299 #14,769
2011 modern 278 #15,390
2012 modern 268 #15,745
2013 modern 275 #15,719
2014 modern 282 #15,537
2015 modern 278 #15,586
2016 modern 277 #15,619

Geography

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Where Sturchs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Shipston-on-Stour, Deddington, London parishes, Kings Norton and Whichford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Birmingham, Walsall and Sheffield. 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 Shipston-on-Stour Warwickshire
2 Deddington Oxfordshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Kings Norton Worcestershire
5 Whichford Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Birmingham 007 Birmingham
2 Walsall 003 Walsall
3 Sheffield 076 Sheffield
4 Sheffield 039 Sheffield
5 Birmingham 001 Birmingham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sturch

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sturch

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Sturch, 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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Sturch surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Sturch household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Sturch is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Sturch is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

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

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Sturch falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Sturch is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Sturch

The surname Sturch originates from England, with its roots dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "sturc," which means "stern" or "inflexible." This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a nickname to someone with a stern or unyielding personality.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Sturch surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, where it was spelled as "Sturche." This document, which was a survey of landowners and their holdings, provides valuable insights into the prevalence of the name during that time period.

In the late 14th century, the surname appeared in the Poll Tax records of Lincolnshire, where it was documented as "Sturch." This tax record, compiled in 1379, offers a glimpse into the geographical distribution of the name and its variations in spelling.

The Sturch surname has also been linked to various place names in England, such as Sturch Green in Staffordshire and Sturch Meadow in Oxfordshire. These place names may have influenced the surname or vice versa, with individuals potentially adopting the name based on their place of origin or residence.

Among the notable individuals bearing the Sturch surname throughout history are:

1. John Sturch (c. 1520 - 1599), an English clergyman and controversialist who served as the Bishop of Bath and Wells. 2. William Sturch (1587 - 1665), an English theologian and author who published works on religious subjects. 3. Elizabeth Sturch (1674 - 1754), a prominent figure in the early Quaker movement in England. 4. Henry Sturch (1713 - 1787), a renowned English landscape architect and garden designer. 5. Samuel Sturch (1801 - 1868), a British merchant and philanthropist who contributed significantly to the development of education and public libraries in his hometown of Kidderminster.

While the Sturch surname may not be as widespread as some others, its history and evolution provide a fascinating glimpse into the rich tapestry of English surnames and their origins, offering insights into the lives and personalities of those who bore this name throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sturch families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sturch 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. Oxfordshire leads with 61 Sturchs recorded in 1881 and an index of 53.87x.

County Total Index
Oxfordshire 61 53.87x
Warwickshire 39 8.43x
Worcestershire 35 14.62x
Middlesex 11 0.60x
Kent 9 1.44x
Northamptonshire 9 5.22x
Surrey 6 0.67x
Gloucestershire 4 1.11x
Lancashire 4 0.18x
Glamorgan 3 0.94x
Monmouthshire 2 1.51x
Yorkshire 2 0.11x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.90x
Staffordshire 1 0.16x
Sussex 1 0.32x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Gt Haseley in Oxfordshire leads with 26 Sturchs recorded in 1881 and an index of 6046.51x.

Place Total Index
Gt Haseley 26 6046.51x
Shipston On Stour 22 2018.35x
Whichford 14 5600.00x
Deddington 8 650.41x
Kings Norton 8 37.26x
Oxford St Thomas 7 132.58x
Aston Cantlow 6 869.57x
Minster In Sheppey 6 57.86x
Newington 6 8.86x
West Haddon 6 1071.43x
Aston 5 3.93x
Brize Norton 5 1041.67x
Hackney London 5 4.86x
Stratford On Avon 5 195.31x
Salford 4 6.25x
Shipton Under Wychwood 4 547.95x
Atherstone 3 127.12x
Birmingham 3 1.95x
E Adderbury 3 526.32x
Evesham All Sts 3 267.86x
St Pancras London 3 2.03x
Westbury On Trym 3 24.63x
Ystradyfodwg 3 10.71x
Blockley 2 148.15x
Chatham 2 11.62x
Fulham London 2 7.52x
Lindley Cum Quarmby 2 43.67x
Newport 2 31.65x
Warwick St Mary 2 49.88x
Banbury 1 44.05x
Bladon 1 263.16x
Blakesley 1 384.62x
Bloxham 1 90.09x
Boughton Aluph 1 285.71x
Chilton 1 526.32x
Chipping Norton 1 38.17x
Guilsborough 1 217.39x
Heston 1 16.42x
Oxford St Giles 1 18.52x
Preston 1 18.52x
Souldern 1 344.83x
Stapleton 1 14.66x
Tetsworth 1 370.37x
Watlington 1 86.21x
Wellesbourne Mountford 1 227.27x
Wellingborough 1 11.53x
Wolverhampton 1 2.10x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 15
Ann 6
Sarah 6
Elizabeth 5
Elizth. 4
Ellen 4
Catherine 3
Jane 3
Rose 3
Eliza 2
Emma 2
Hannah 2
Harriett 2
Lydia 2
Rosa 2
Susan 2
Ada 1
Alice 1
Amelia 1
Amy 1
Angelina 1
Annie 1
Blanche 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Emily 1
Hariet 1
Harriet 1
Helen 1
Herbert 1
Joanna 1
Kattie 1
Lucy 1
Rosetta 1
Ruth 1
Sophia 1
Stela 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 16
John 7
Charles 6
Henry 6
James 6
Joseph 6
Thomas 6
George 5
Richard 5
Albert 4
Arthur 4
Edward 3
Frederick 3
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Walter 2
Alfd. 1
Alfred 1
Amariah 1
Bertram 1
Edmund 1
Elizabeth 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Fredk.W. 1
Geo. 1
Job 1
Josh. 1
Percival 1
Perrin 1
Richd.Jno. 1
T. 1
Thos.Hy. 1
Tom 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Sturch surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sturch surname in 1881?

In 1881, 191 people were recorded with the Sturch surname. That placed it at #13,224 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sturch surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 277 in 2016. That gives Sturch a modern rank of #15,619.

What does the Sturch surname mean?

A topographic surname derived from a place name referring to wooded valleys or gorges.

What does the Sturch map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Sturch 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.