NameCensus.

UK surname

Sturgis

Derived from a place name meaning "fort covered with straw" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 105 people recorded with the Sturgis surname, ranking it #19,183 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 82, ranked #32,895, down from #19,183 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Deverhill Monckton, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wiltshire, Harborough and Camden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sturgis is 114 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 21.9%.

1881 census count

105

Ranked #19,183

Modern count

82

2016, ranked #32,895

Peak year

1901

114 bearers

Map years

3

1881 to 1901

Key insights

  • Sturgis had 105 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,183 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 82 in 2016, ranked #32,895.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 114 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Sturgis surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sturgis surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sturgis 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 67 #21,440
1861 historical 67 #25,342
1881 historical 105 #19,183
1891 historical 106 #23,105
1901 historical 114 #21,166
1911 historical 88 #24,041
1997 modern 93 #27,932
1998 modern 92 #28,680
1999 modern 93 #28,711
2000 modern 106 #26,848
2001 modern 104 #26,765
2002 modern 104 #27,303
2003 modern 93 #28,829
2004 modern 93 #29,065
2005 modern 88 #29,831
2006 modern 90 #29,893
2007 modern 84 #31,067
2008 modern 87 #30,999
2009 modern 91 #30,944
2010 modern 89 #31,745
2011 modern 92 #31,301
2012 modern 90 #31,790
2013 modern 84 #32,745
2014 modern 84 #32,823
2015 modern 82 #32,911
2016 modern 82 #32,895

Geography

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Where Sturgis' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Deverhill Monckton, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory and St Marylebone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wiltshire, Harborough, Camden, Chichester and Merton. 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 Deverhill Monckton Wiltshire
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory Northamptonshire
5 St Marylebone London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wiltshire 004 Wiltshire
2 Harborough 007 Harborough
3 Camden 026 Camden
4 Chichester 005 Chichester
5 Merton 002 Merton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sturgis

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sturgis

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Sturgis is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Sturgis is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Sturgis

The surname Sturgis is believed to have originated in England, with its roots dating back to the 11th century. It is derived from the Old English words "sturgeon" and "hithe," which together referred to a landing place or port where sturgeon fish were brought ashore.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Sturgis name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was listed as "Sturgie" in the county of Oxfordshire. This suggests that the name may have initially been associated with individuals who lived or worked near a sturgeon landing place.

During the Middle Ages, the name evolved into various spellings, including Sturges, Sturgess, and Sturgis. These variations likely emerged due to regional dialects and the inconsistencies in spelling practices at the time.

In the 14th century, records show a Thomas Sturgis who was a prominent landowner in the county of Dorset. Another notable figure was John Sturgis, born around 1550, who served as a member of the English Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

The Sturgis surname also has connections to place names. For example, the town of Sturgis in South Dakota, founded in 1878, was named after a surveyor named John Sturgis. Similarly, the village of Sturgis in Mississippi was named after a local landowner named Sturgis in the early 19th century.

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

1. William Sturgis (1782-1863), an American merchant and philanthropist from Massachusetts. 2. Russell Sturgis (1805-1887), an American architect and writer on architecture. 3. Julian Sturgis (1836-1904), an American lawyer and author from Massachusetts. 4. Howard Overing Sturgis (1855-1920), an English novelist and poet. 5. William Codman Sturgis (1877-1944), an American architect and educator from Massachusetts.

The Sturgis name has been carried across generations and has maintained its presence in various parts of the world, particularly in English-speaking countries. While its origins can be traced back to England, the name has evolved and spread, reflecting the diverse histories and migrations of families over centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sturgis families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sturgis 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 35 Sturgis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.42x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 35 3.42x
Wiltshire 16 17.66x
Northamptonshire 14 14.53x
Kent 9 2.58x
Berkshire 6 7.80x
Lancashire 6 0.49x
Leicestershire 4 3.52x
Somerset 3 1.82x
Surrey 3 0.60x
Durham 2 0.66x
Essex 2 0.99x
Gloucestershire 2 1.00x
Buckinghamshire 1 1.62x
Glamorgan 1 0.56x
Staffordshire 1 0.29x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Monckton Deverill in Wiltshire leads with 12 Sturgis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 30000.00x.

Place Total Index
Monckton Deverill 12 30000.00x
Plumstead 8 68.67x
Liverpool 6 8.13x
Northampton Priory St 6 103.81x
Tilehurst 6 387.10x
Brigstock 5 1351.35x
Hackney London 5 8.71x
Paddington London 5 13.28x
Chelsea London 4 12.96x
Fulham London 4 26.94x
Kensington London 4 7.02x
Upper Pertwood 4 40000.00x
Bath St James 3 174.42x
St Martin In Fields 3 48.94x
Cassop 2 952.38x
Hampstead London 2 12.54x
Hardingstone 2 217.39x
Islington London 2 2.01x
Leyton 2 57.47x
Richmond 2 28.61x
Westbury On Trym 2 29.37x
Barrow Upon Soar 1 106.38x
Cannock 1 16.58x
East Langton 1 1250.00x
Eton 1 71.43x
Godalming 1 31.85x
Hendon 1 27.10x
Llandilo Talybont 1 106.38x
Loughborough 1 19.42x
Mile End Old Town 1 6.18x
Mountsorrel North End 1 454.55x
St George Hanover 1 7.48x
St George Martyr 1 57.80x
St Marylebone London 1 1.83x
Strixton 1 3333.33x
Westminster St John 1 8.02x
Woolwich 1 7.75x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 7
George 6
Henry 6
James 4
William 4
Abraham 3
Arthur 3
Samuel 2
Alfred 1
Charles 1
Edward 1
Harry 1
Howard 1
Isaac 1
Joseph 1
Josh. 1
Julian 1
Kenneth 1
M. 1
Mathew 1
Owen 1
Robt. 1
Russell 1
Sidney 1
Thomas 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Sturgis surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sturgis surname in 1881?

In 1881, 105 people were recorded with the Sturgis surname. That placed it at #19,183 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sturgis surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 82 in 2016. That gives Sturgis a modern rank of #32,895.

What does the Sturgis surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "fort covered with straw" in Old English.

What does the Sturgis map show?

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