NameCensus.

UK surname

Sturdy

A surname suggesting strength, toughness or physical robustness.

In the 1881 census there were 951 people recorded with the Sturdy surname, ranking it #4,065 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,219, ranked #4,882, down from #4,065 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles, Sheffield and Helmsley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ryedale, Burnley and Harrogate.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sturdy is 1,338 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 28.2%.

1881 census count

951

Ranked #4,065

Modern count

1,219

2016, ranked #4,882

Peak year

1999

1,338 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sturdy had 951 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,065 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,219 in 2016, ranked #4,882.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,296 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Sturdy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sturdy surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sturdy 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 636 #4,081
1861 historical 570 #4,616
1881 historical 951 #4,065
1891 historical 1,064 #3,944
1901 historical 1,242 #3,987
1911 historical 1,296 #3,678
1997 modern 1,283 #4,442
1998 modern 1,323 #4,488
1999 modern 1,338 #4,475
2000 modern 1,308 #4,551
2001 modern 1,278 #4,551
2002 modern 1,305 #4,554
2003 modern 1,218 #4,748
2004 modern 1,224 #4,728
2005 modern 1,202 #4,752
2006 modern 1,202 #4,766
2007 modern 1,231 #4,723
2008 modern 1,243 #4,704
2009 modern 1,248 #4,786
2010 modern 1,278 #4,781
2011 modern 1,264 #4,772
2012 modern 1,224 #4,833
2013 modern 1,246 #4,831
2014 modern 1,243 #4,860
2015 modern 1,222 #4,885
2016 modern 1,219 #4,882

Geography

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Where Sturdys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles, Sheffield, Helmsley, London parishes and Middlesborough. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ryedale, Burnley, Harrogate and York. 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 St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles Yorkshire, East Riding
2 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Helmsley Yorkshire, North Riding
4 London parishes London 2
5 Middlesborough Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ryedale 008 Ryedale
2 Burnley 010 Burnley
3 Harrogate 016 Harrogate
4 York 016 York
5 Burnley 003 Burnley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sturdy

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sturdy

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Sturdy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Sturdy household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Sturdy is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Sturdy is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Sturdy 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 Sturdy 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 Sturdy, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Sturdy

The surname Sturdy originates from England and is derived from the Old English word 'sturdi', meaning strong or robust. It was likely used as a nickname for someone of a stout or hardy nature.

The earliest known record of the surname Sturdy dates back to the 13th century in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, where it appears as 'Sturdi'. Other early spellings include 'Sturday', 'Sturdee', and 'Sturdye'.

During the medieval period, the surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, and Gloucestershire, suggesting it may have originated in the West Midlands region of England.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname was Robert Sturdy, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Warwickshire in 1290.

In the 16th century, the name appeared in the parish records of several villages in Oxfordshire, including Banbury and Bicester. A notable example was John Sturdy, who was born in Banbury in 1542.

The Sturdy surname has also been linked to various place names, such as Sturdy's Castle, a former fortification near Bristol, and Sturdy's Farm in Warwickshire, which was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Sturdy. These include:

1. Sir William Sturdy (1588-1668), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Oxfordshire. 2. Samuel Sturdy (1670-1737), an English Quaker preacher and author. 3. Thomas Sturdy (1772-1855), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars. 4. John Sturdy (1824-1892), an English architect and surveyor, known for his work on several churches in Oxfordshire. 5. Edith Sturdy (1891-1981), a British artist and illustrator, renowned for her book illustrations and paintings of rural life.

While the surname Sturdy has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through emigration during the 19th and 20th centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sturdy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sturdy 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. Yorkshire leads with 511 Sturdys recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.56x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 511 5.56x
Middlesex 66 0.71x
Durham 65 2.36x
Surrey 54 1.20x
Lancashire 38 0.35x
Oxfordshire 34 5.94x
Warwickshire 31 1.33x
Northumberland 24 1.74x
Lanarkshire 22 0.73x
Kent 15 0.47x
Nottinghamshire 15 1.20x
Sussex 13 0.83x
Lincolnshire 12 0.81x
Hampshire 11 0.58x
Cardiganshire 7 3.10x
Fife 7 1.28x
Devon 5 0.26x
Ayrshire 4 0.58x
Dorset 3 0.49x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.36x
Cumberland 2 0.25x
Glamorgan 2 0.12x
Gloucestershire 2 0.11x
Leicestershire 2 0.19x
Berkshire 1 0.14x
Cheshire 1 0.05x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.34x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stockton On Tees in Durham leads with 39 Sturdys recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.35x.

Place Total Index
Stockton On Tees 39 29.35x
Aston 28 4.35x
Leeds 25 4.82x
Helmsley 21 426.83x
Kirkby Moorside 21 358.97x
Spelsbury 20 1156.07x
Bradford 18 8.10x
Brightside Bierlow 16 8.88x
New Malton 16 145.72x
Headingley Cum Burley 14 23.68x
Ormesby 14 56.73x
Westgate 14 16.40x
Middlesbrough 13 10.87x
Mile End Old Town 13 8.89x
Walton On Thames 13 62.71x
Charlbury 12 186.92x
Glasgow 12 2.25x
Linthorpe 12 21.90x
St Pancras London 12 1.61x
Beverley St Martin 11 71.75x
Coxwold 10 1010.10x
Lindfield 10 151.52x
Clerkenwell London 9 4.11x
Colston Bassett 9 918.37x
Crosby 9 6923.08x
Godstone 9 111.25x
Southampton St Michael 9 143.77x
Thirsk Sand Hutton 9 909.09x
Topcliffe 9 461.54x
Beverley St Mary 8 59.66x
Darlington 8 7.52x
Ellerbeck 8 3478.26x
Farmanby 8 509.55x
Masham 8 235.29x
Maunby 8 1230.77x
Skellingthorpe 8 349.35x
Sowerby In Thirsk 8 144.67x
Thornaby 8 23.32x
York St Mary 8 21.04x
Cupar 7 29.34x
Elswick 7 6.36x
Islington London 7 0.78x
Northallerton 7 59.73x
Sculcoates 7 4.81x
Sheffield 7 2.39x
Stoke Newington London 7 9.70x
Whorlton 7 322.58x
York St Maurice 7 40.49x
Cropton 6 535.71x
Easingwold 6 92.59x
Everton 6 1.71x
Farnham 6 17.09x
Govan 6 0.81x
Knaresborough 6 41.61x
Lampeter 6 270.27x
Nottingham St Mary 6 1.86x
Richmond 6 9.48x
Rosedale West Side 6 612.24x
Sandal Magna 6 44.18x
Scarborough 6 7.19x
Stretford 6 9.92x
Wortley In Bramley 6 8.25x
Battersea 5 1.47x
Camberwell 5 0.84x
Cranbrook 5 37.34x
Gorton 5 4.84x
Hunslet 5 3.49x
Lambeth 5 0.62x
Liverpool 5 0.75x
Pool 5 273.22x
Southcoates 5 9.81x
York All Sts North 5 109.89x
Arthington 4 281.69x
Brompton In Scarborough 4 182.65x
Crayke 4 251.57x
Dewsbury 4 4.25x
Dunlop 4 92.38x
Garston 4 12.33x
Newby Wiske 4 579.71x
Settle 4 56.90x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 73
William 50
Thomas 38
George 32
Henry 20
Charles 13
Joseph 12
Harry 11
Arthur 10
Richard 10
James 9
Robert 9
Frederick 8
Walter 8
Alfred 7
Edward 7
Thos. 7
Ernest 5
Frank 5
Christopher 4
Edwin 4
Fred 4
Daniel 3
Francis 3
Herbert 3
Mark 3
Wm. 3
Albert 2
David 2
Edmund 2
Jno. 2
Job 2
Jonebth. 2
Luke 2
Nathan 2
Peter 2
Alexander 1
Benjamin 1
D. 1
Dan 1
Donald 1
Ellis 1
Fredrick 1
Frily 1
Geo. 1
Jesse 1
Jno.Wm. 1
Jonathan 1
Jos. 1
Wm.J. 1

FAQ

Sturdy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sturdy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 951 people were recorded with the Sturdy surname. That placed it at #4,065 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sturdy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,219 in 2016. That gives Sturdy a modern rank of #4,882.

What does the Sturdy surname mean?

A surname suggesting strength, toughness or physical robustness.

What does the Sturdy map show?

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