NameCensus.

UK surname

Sturman

A surname derived from a German occupational term for a steersman or helmsman.

In the 1881 census there were 665 people recorded with the Sturman surname, ranking it #5,412 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,296, ranked #4,621, up from #5,412 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Griston, Swinford and Rowley Regis. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mid Suffolk, Breckland and South Norfolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sturman is 1,356 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 94.9%.

1881 census count

665

Ranked #5,412

Modern count

1,296

2016, ranked #4,621

Peak year

2002

1,356 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sturman had 665 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,412 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,296 in 2016, ranked #4,621.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,267 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Sturman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sturman surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sturman 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 383 #6,247
1861 historical 297 #8,508
1881 historical 665 #5,412
1891 historical 758 #5,257
1901 historical 1,042 #4,593
1911 historical 1,267 #3,751
1997 modern 1,299 #4,400
1998 modern 1,353 #4,399
1999 modern 1,346 #4,456
2000 modern 1,348 #4,432
2001 modern 1,331 #4,395
2002 modern 1,356 #4,413
2003 modern 1,295 #4,503
2004 modern 1,288 #4,520
2005 modern 1,255 #4,586
2006 modern 1,250 #4,609
2007 modern 1,256 #4,634
2008 modern 1,241 #4,715
2009 modern 1,249 #4,778
2010 modern 1,274 #4,797
2011 modern 1,277 #4,720
2012 modern 1,283 #4,626
2013 modern 1,298 #4,663
2014 modern 1,313 #4,631
2015 modern 1,300 #4,631
2016 modern 1,296 #4,621

Geography

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Where Sturmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Griston, Swinford, Rowley Regis, Lewisham and Carlton Rode. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mid Suffolk, Breckland and South Norfolk. 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 Griston Norfolk
2 Swinford Leicestershire
3 Rowley Regis Staffordshire
4 Lewisham London (South Districts)
5 Carlton Rode Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mid Suffolk 004 Mid Suffolk
2 Breckland 011 Breckland
3 South Norfolk 007 South Norfolk
4 South Norfolk 011 South Norfolk
5 Breckland 013 Breckland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sturman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sturman

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

Sturman 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

Sturman falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Sturman 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 Sturman, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Sturman

The surname Sturman is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "stur" meaning "sturdy" or "strong" and "man" referring to a person. This suggests that the name was likely given as a descriptive nickname to someone who was considered exceptionally strong or hardy.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Sturman can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which were census-like records compiled in England during the reign of King Edward I. This document mentions a William Sturman residing in Oxfordshire.

In the 14th century, the name appears in various tax records and legal documents across different counties in England. For example, a John Sturman is listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns of 1379, while a Robert Sturman is mentioned in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1384.

The Sturman surname is also linked to certain place names in England, such as the village of Sturminster in Dorset, which was originally known as "Sturmannesminstre" in the Domesday Book of 1086. This suggests a connection between the name and this particular location.

One notable bearer of the Sturman name was Sir Thomas Sturman, who served as the Sheriff of Derbyshire in 1548 during the reign of King Edward VI. Another was Sir Richard Sturman, a member of the English gentry in the 16th century, who held lands in Nottinghamshire.

In the 17th century, a prominent figure with this surname was John Sturman, a wealthy merchant and alderman in the city of Bristol. He played a significant role in the city's trade and economic development during the 1600s.

Another individual of note was Richard Sturman, an English clergyman and author who lived from 1632 to 1706. He was the Archdeacon of Stow and wrote several religious works during his lifetime.

In the 18th century, a notable Sturman was William Sturman, a successful businessman and landowner in Leicestershire, who lived from 1720 to 1795. He was involved in the wool trade and owned several properties in the county.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sturman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sturman 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. Norfolk leads with 158 Sturmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.82x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 158 15.82x
Northamptonshire 91 14.89x
Middlesex 78 1.20x
Suffolk 61 7.71x
Yorkshire 42 0.65x
Leicestershire 34 4.72x
Kent 29 1.31x
Staffordshire 28 1.28x
Bedfordshire 27 8.03x
Hertfordshire 17 3.80x
Surrey 16 0.51x
Worcestershire 15 1.77x
Nottinghamshire 12 1.37x
Oxfordshire 10 2.49x
Rutland 9 18.87x
Huntingdonshire 7 5.43x
Cambridgeshire 6 1.46x
Hampshire 5 0.38x
Devon 4 0.30x
Durham 3 0.16x
Essex 3 0.23x
Warwickshire 3 0.18x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.51x
Sussex 2 0.18x
Berkshire 1 0.21x
Cheshire 1 0.07x
Cornwall 1 0.14x
Somerset 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Gillingham in Norfolk leads with 29 Sturmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 2900.00x.

Place Total Index
Gillingham 29 2900.00x
Rowley Regis 26 42.55x
Lewisham 22 18.61x
Carleton Rode 20 1156.07x
Griston 20 3333.33x
Islington London 17 2.70x
Shoreditch London 17 6.04x
Leighton Buzzard 15 103.66x
The Hill 15 275.23x
Burton Latimer 14 379.40x
Swinford 14 1555.56x
Cottingham 13 616.11x
Bunwell 12 628.27x
Houghton Regis 12 223.88x
Kettering 12 48.54x
Rothwell 12 195.44x
Bergh Apton 11 1047.62x
Lofthouse 11 114.46x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 10 67.34x
Hornsey 10 12.17x
Oxford St Giles 10 52.25x
Risby 10 1020.41x
Hellington 9 4090.91x
Mulbarton 9 782.61x
Oulton 9 337.08x
Tickencote 9 3913.04x
Bethnal Green London 8 2.83x
Camberwell 8 1.93x
Newington 8 45.12x
Alconbury 7 457.52x
Blundeston 7 440.25x
Clay Coton 7 3181.82x
Deopham 7 736.84x
Edmonton 7 13.37x
Kirstead 7 1555.56x
Mildenhall 7 83.23x
Northampton St Giles 7 30.07x
Old Buckenham 7 273.44x
Rotherham 7 19.29x
St Pancras London 7 1.34x
Abbots Langley 6 90.23x
Cogenhoe 6 769.23x
Deptford St Paul 6 3.51x
Kensington London 6 1.66x
Kings Langley 6 184.05x
Manea 6 230.77x
Mansfield 6 19.80x
Melton Mowbray 6 46.33x
Annesley 5 151.52x
Hingham 5 144.51x
Leicester All Sts 5 35.34x
Lound 5 510.20x
Northampton Priory St 5 13.64x
Portsea 5 1.92x
Southwark St George Martyr 5 3.82x
Anstey 4 140.35x
Great Houghton 4 547.95x
Littleham 4 40.44x
Shipmeadow 4 833.33x
Skelton In Guisbrough 4 22.98x
South Walsham St Mary 4 481.93x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 3 5.00x
Bishopwearmouth 3 1.81x
Kimberworth 3 8.40x
Lowestoft 3 8.03x
Watford 3 8.64x
Wellingborough 3 9.77x
Wicklewood 3 184.05x
Burton Upon Trent 2 3.90x
Chipping Barnet 2 25.54x
Clifton On Dunsmore 2 150.38x
Cublington 2 344.83x
Dallington 2 55.71x
Guisbrough 2 14.21x
Heigham 2 3.73x
Kessingland 2 73.26x
Leicester St Margaret 2 1.14x
Marsham 2 162.60x
Penge 2 4.82x
Terrington St Clement 2 44.35x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 39
Elizabeth 35
Sarah 30
Eliza 16
Emma 16
Charlotte 10
Ellen 10
Jane 10
Hannah 8
Annie 7
Lucy 7
Ann 5
Emily 5
Florence 5
Harriet 5
Alice 4
Fanny 4
Harriett 4
Kate 4
Maria 4
Ada 3
Agnes 3
Caroline 3
Louisa 3
May 3
Susan 3
Beatrice 2
Catherine 2
Esther 2
Julia 2
Lilly 2
Martha 2
Matilda 2
Maud 2
Miriam 2
Phoebe 2
Rachel 2
Rose 2
Ruth 2
Amy 1
Benina 1
Bessie 1
Betsie 1
Dora 1
E. 1
Edith 1
Infant 1
Isabel 1
Jael 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 46
William 37
George 30
Charles 23
James 15
Edward 14
Henry 13
Robert 13
Walter 13
Joseph 12
Arthur 11
Thomas 10
Alfred 8
Harry 8
Albert 7
Frederick 6
Richard 6
Herbert 5
Ernest 4
Frank 4
Jeremiah 4
Samuel 4
Mark 3
Authur 2
David 2
Malachi 2
Matthew 2
Noah 2
Sidney 2
Wm. 2
Bertram 1
Eliab 1
Elijah 1
Enoch 1
Fred 1
Fredarick 1
Frederic 1
Geo. 1
Hashabiah 1
Horace 1
Jas.Alfd. 1
Leonard 1
Levi 1
Louis 1
Oscar 1
Percy 1
Robertes 1
Robt. 1
Sam 1
Saml.S. 1

FAQ

Sturman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sturman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 665 people were recorded with the Sturman surname. That placed it at #5,412 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sturman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,296 in 2016. That gives Sturman a modern rank of #4,621.

What does the Sturman surname mean?

A surname derived from a German occupational term for a steersman or helmsman.

What does the Sturman map show?

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