NameCensus.

UK surname

Sturges

A locational surname derived from places in England, likely referring to someone living near a fort or pathway.

In the 1881 census there were 722 people recorded with the Sturges surname, ranking it #5,047 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 500, ranked #9,983, down from #5,047 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Dorking, Stoke Bruerne and Kintbury. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bath and North East Somerset, Merton and Test Valley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sturges is 751 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 30.7%.

1881 census count

722

Ranked #5,047

Modern count

500

2016, ranked #9,983

Peak year

1891

751 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sturges had 722 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,047 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 500 in 2016, ranked #9,983.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 751 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Sturges surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sturges surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sturges 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 658 #3,943
1861 historical 549 #4,796
1881 historical 722 #5,047
1891 historical 751 #5,305
1901 historical 582 #7,241
1911 historical 725 #5,900
1997 modern 551 #8,644
1998 modern 565 #8,738
1999 modern 548 #9,012
2000 modern 558 #8,841
2001 modern 559 #8,699
2002 modern 538 #9,132
2003 modern 518 #9,257
2004 modern 501 #9,511
2005 modern 494 #9,527
2006 modern 485 #9,691
2007 modern 474 #9,948
2008 modern 471 #10,091
2009 modern 473 #10,269
2010 modern 478 #10,392
2011 modern 486 #10,168
2012 modern 482 #10,131
2013 modern 504 #9,966
2014 modern 499 #10,090
2015 modern 494 #10,083
2016 modern 500 #9,983

Geography

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Where Sturges' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Dorking, Stoke Bruerne, Kintbury, Draughton and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bath and North East Somerset, Merton, Test Valley, Thanet and North 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 Dorking Surrey
2 Stoke Bruerne Northamptonshire
3 Kintbury Berkshire
4 Draughton Northamptonshire
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bath and North East Somerset 010 Bath and North East Somerset
2 Merton 025 Merton
3 Test Valley 007 Test Valley
4 Thanet 017 Thanet
5 North Kesteven 003 North Kesteven

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sturges

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sturges

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Sturges, 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 Sturges surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Sturges 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

London Fringe

Within London, Sturges is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Sturges 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

Sturges falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Sturges is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Sturges

The surname STURGES is believed to have originated in England, with roots dating back to the early medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "stur" and "gehæg," which collectively translate to "a place enclosed by a sturdy fence or hedge."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, which mentions a landowner named Radulfus de Sturges in the county of Wiltshire. This suggests that the name was already established in parts of southern England by the late 11th century.

During the Middle Ages, the name was often spelled in various ways, such as Sturges, Sturgis, and Sturgess, reflecting the fluid nature of spelling conventions at the time. The surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Wiltshire, Dorset, and Somerset, where many early bearers of the name resided.

One notable individual with the surname STURGES was Sir William Sturges (c. 1455-1522), a member of the English gentry and a Member of Parliament for Wiltshire during the reign of Henry VIII. Another prominent figure was John Sturges (1610-1669), an English lawyer and judge who served as Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas.

In the 17th century, the surname STURGES gained further recognition through the exploits of Sir Samuel Sturges (1638-1704), a successful merchant and banker in London. He was instrumental in establishing the Bank of England and served as its first Deputy Governor from 1694 to 1700.

Moving into the 18th century, the name STURGES was associated with the renowned philosopher and abolitionist John Sturges (1724-1807), who advocated for the abolition of the slave trade and the emancipation of enslaved people.

Another notable figure was Sir John Sturges (1764-1846), a British naval officer who played a significant role in the Napoleonic Wars. He was recognized for his bravery and strategic leadership, earning him the prestigious Order of the Bath.

As the name STURGES spread across England and beyond, it continued to be associated with individuals from various walks of life, including academics, artists, and professionals, solidifying its place in the annals of British history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sturges families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sturges 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. Middlesex leads with 101 Sturges' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.44x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 101 1.44x
Surrey 88 2.58x
Northamptonshire 82 12.47x
Kent 63 2.64x
Berkshire 46 8.76x
Oxfordshire 43 9.96x
Somerset 36 3.20x
Hampshire 28 1.95x
Bedfordshire 22 6.07x
Worcestershire 22 2.41x
Warwickshire 20 1.13x
Staffordshire 19 0.80x
Lancashire 18 0.22x
Leicestershire 18 2.32x
Nottinghamshire 12 1.27x
Wiltshire 11 1.78x
Buckinghamshire 10 2.37x
Sussex 10 0.85x
Suffolk 9 1.06x
Gloucestershire 8 0.58x
Huntingdonshire 7 5.04x
Pembrokeshire 7 3.15x
Denbighshire 6 2.27x
Dorset 5 1.09x
Yorkshire 5 0.07x
Derbyshire 3 0.27x
Devon 3 0.21x
Essex 3 0.22x
Lanarkshire 3 0.13x
Glamorgan 2 0.16x
Norfolk 2 0.19x
Shropshire 2 0.33x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.23x
Cheshire 1 0.06x
Midlothian 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dorking in Surrey leads with 21 Sturges' recorded in 1881 and an index of 91.78x.

Place Total Index
Dorking 21 91.78x
Oldbury 21 46.73x
Kintbury 20 492.61x
Margate St John Baptist 19 43.49x
Draughton 17 4358.97x
Croydon 16 8.46x
Worksop 12 42.92x
Headington 11 163.93x
Aston 10 2.06x
Battersea 10 3.89x
Bethnal Green London 10 3.29x
Birmingham 10 1.70x
Bow London 10 11.23x
Camberwell 10 2.24x
Northampton St Sepulchre 10 29.88x
Ramsgate 10 25.67x
Chelsea London 9 4.27x
Deptford St Paul 9 4.89x
Halesworth 9 149.01x
Islington London 9 1.33x
Newington 9 3.48x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 8 6.19x
Burton Latimer 8 201.51x
Rowley Regis 8 12.16x
Shoreditch London 8 2.64x
Yeovil 8 34.97x
Bedford St Peter 7 74.39x
Cuddesdon 7 593.22x
Great Doddington 7 489.51x
Kensington London 7 1.80x
Keystone 7 1228.07x
Mark 7 266.16x
Stockton 7 1206.90x
Wiston 7 406.98x
Wycombe 7 22.21x
Abergele 6 78.95x
Beckenham 6 19.23x
Enborne 6 612.24x
Folkestone 6 12.96x
Handsworth 6 10.31x
Northampton Priory St 6 15.20x
Oxford St Thomas 6 29.76x
Rotherhithe 6 6.94x
St George In East 6 12.61x
Wargrave 6 133.04x
Wheatley 6 245.90x
Whiston 6 3000.00x
Aldershot 5 10.41x
Bath St James 5 42.59x
Bicester Market End 5 63.05x
Burghclere 5 274.73x
Greens Norton 5 239.23x
Hove 5 9.66x
Kettering 5 18.79x
Kimcote Knaptoft 5 467.29x
Lambeth 5 0.82x
Lidlington 5 316.46x
Paddington London 5 1.94x
Sherborne 5 36.98x
St George Hanover 5 5.48x
St Pancras London 5 0.89x
Stoney Stanton 5 210.08x
Tilehurst 5 47.13x
Weston Zoyland 5 312.50x
Bermondsey 4 1.92x
Easton 4 344.83x
Hackney London 4 1.02x
Leicester All Sts 4 26.26x
Rivington 4 506.33x
Salford 4 754.72x
Shadwell London 4 20.44x
St Marylebone London 4 1.07x
Barton Upon Irwell 3 4.80x
Brighton 3 1.26x
Codford St Peter 3 394.74x
Finchley 3 11.19x
Leatherhead 3 35.17x
Marston Moretaine 3 106.38x
St Thomas Winchester 3 29.64x
Thorpe Lubenham 3 30000.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 42
Elizabeth 26
Sarah 25
Jane 18
Ann 15
Emily 12
Annie 10
Eliza 10
Louisa 10
Alice 9
Edith 8
Emma 8
Martha 8
Lucy 7
Anne 6
Ellen 6
Fanny 6
Harriet 6
Susan 6
Hannah 5
Rose 5
Kate 4
Ada 3
Caroline 3
Charlotte 3
Harriett 3
Helen 3
Laura 3
Agnes 2
Amelia 2
Bessie 2
Clara 2
E. 2
Ethel 2
Florence 2
Lillian 2
Matilda 2
Minnie 2
Rebecca 2
Rosa 2
Rosetta 2
Ruth 2
Sophia 2
Amy 1
Blanche 1
Elizh. 1
Elth.Bennett 1
Ester 1
Jessica 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 46
George 32
John 30
Thomas 29
Charles 18
Henry 18
James 18
Alfred 13
Arthur 11
Walter 11
Albert 10
Joseph 10
Edward 8
Frederick 8
Ernest 5
Herbert 5
Richard 5
Harry 4
Mark 4
Frank 3
Isaac 3
Robert 3
Wm. 3
David 2
Edwin 2
Fred 2
Geo. 2
Jos. 2
Montague 2
Percy 2
Samuel 2
Thos. 2
Barnard 1
Daniel 1
Decimus 1
Earnest 1
Edd. 1
Fracis 1
Francis 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Frists 1
Gerald 1
Lawrence 1
Leonard 1
Luke 1
Matthew 1
Maunsel 1
Michael 1
Wm.G. 1

FAQ

Sturges surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sturges surname in 1881?

In 1881, 722 people were recorded with the Sturges surname. That placed it at #5,047 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sturges surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 500 in 2016. That gives Sturges a modern rank of #9,983.

What does the Sturges surname mean?

A locational surname derived from places in England, likely referring to someone living near a fort or pathway.

What does the Sturges map show?

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