NameCensus.

UK surname

Sturt

A topographic surname referring to a tough or vigorous person.

In the 1881 census there were 682 people recorded with the Sturt surname, ranking it #5,288 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 785, ranked #7,030, down from #5,288 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Dorking, Arundel and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnet, Surrey Heath and Woking.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sturt is 966 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 15.1%.

1881 census count

682

Ranked #5,288

Modern count

785

2016, ranked #7,030

Peak year

1911

966 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sturt had 682 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,288 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 785 in 2016, ranked #7,030.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 966 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Sturt surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sturt surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sturt 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 536 #4,700
1861 historical 439 #5,872
1881 historical 682 #5,288
1891 historical 815 #4,964
1901 historical 940 #4,972
1911 historical 966 #4,679
1997 modern 818 #6,423
1998 modern 845 #6,469
1999 modern 861 #6,418
2000 modern 849 #6,462
2001 modern 821 #6,512
2002 modern 844 #6,496
2003 modern 821 #6,510
2004 modern 813 #6,581
2005 modern 794 #6,646
2006 modern 791 #6,692
2007 modern 792 #6,750
2008 modern 794 #6,797
2009 modern 798 #6,907
2010 modern 813 #6,923
2011 modern 802 #6,935
2012 modern 787 #6,938
2013 modern 815 #6,832
2014 modern 809 #6,925
2015 modern 788 #7,016
2016 modern 785 #7,030

Geography

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Where Sturts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Dorking, Arundel, London parishes, St Pancras and Chobham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnet, Surrey Heath, Woking, Mole Valley and Tandridge. 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 Arundel Sussex
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Chobham Surrey

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnet 011 Barnet
2 Surrey Heath 001 Surrey Heath
3 Woking 005 Woking
4 Mole Valley 009 Mole Valley
5 Tandridge 009 Tandridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sturt

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sturt

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Sturt is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Sturt 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

Sturt falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Sturt

The surname Sturt is of English origin and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "styrt," which meant "stiff" or "rigid." This surname was likely given as a nickname to someone with a stern or unyielding personality.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Sturt can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where it is spelled as "Sturt." This suggests that the name was already established in the Oxfordshire region by that time.

In the 14th century, the name appears in various records, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where it is listed as "William Sturt." This indicates that the name had spread to other parts of England.

During the 16th century, the surname Sturt was found in several parish records, including those of St. Mary's Church in Henbury, Gloucestershire, where a certain "Thomas Sturt" was mentioned in 1591.

The name Sturt is also associated with several notable historical figures. One of the earliest was Sir John Sturt (c. 1533-1585), an English soldier and Member of Parliament who served under Queen Elizabeth I.

Another prominent figure was Thomas Sturt (1663-1730), an English diplomat and politician who served as the British Resident at the Court of the Great Mogul in India from 1715 to 1717.

In the 19th century, Captain Charles Sturt (1795-1869) was a famous English explorer and surveyor who was responsible for mapping vast areas of Australia, including the Murray River and the Sturt Stony Desert, which was named after him.

Another notable individual was Sir Henry Napier Sturt (1825-1899), an English lawyer and judge who served as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Queensland, Australia.

Sir Humphrey Napier Sturt (1866-1944) was a British Army officer who played a significant role in the Second Boer War and later served as the Lord Lieutenant of Dorset.

Throughout its history, the surname Sturt has been associated with various places and place names, particularly in England. For instance, the village of Sturt in Kent is believed to have derived its name from the surname, and there is also a Sturt Farm in Gloucestershire.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sturt families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sturt 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. Surrey leads with 225 Sturts recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.96x.

County Total Index
Surrey 225 6.96x
Sussex 157 14.04x
Middlesex 109 1.64x
Kent 49 2.17x
Hampshire 26 1.91x
Berkshire 21 4.22x
Dorset 14 3.22x
Gloucestershire 12 0.92x
Essex 8 0.61x
Devon 7 0.51x
Warwickshire 7 0.42x
Perthshire 6 2.02x
Hertfordshire 5 1.09x
Lancashire 5 0.06x
Yorkshire 5 0.08x
Cumberland 4 0.70x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.45x
Cheshire 3 0.20x
Lanarkshire 3 0.14x
Merionethshire 2 1.65x
Royal Navy 2 2.53x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.25x
Derbyshire 1 0.10x
Glamorgan 1 0.09x
Midlothian 1 0.11x
West Lothian 1 1.00x
Worcestershire 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brighton in Sussex leads with 38 Sturts recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.84x.

Place Total Index
Brighton 38 16.84x
Chobham 23 402.80x
St Pancras London 19 3.56x
Camberwell 17 4.01x
Egham 17 85.69x
Arundel 16 255.59x
Croydon 15 8.36x
Abinger 12 447.76x
Horsham 12 55.22x
Ewhurst 11 544.55x
Hove 10 20.38x
Shere 10 255.75x
Fetcham 9 833.33x
Guildford Holy Trinity 9 146.10x
Southwark St George Martyr 9 6.74x
St George Hanover 9 10.40x
Barnes 8 58.52x
Broadwater 8 31.19x
Carshalton 8 64.67x
Islington London 8 1.24x
Portslade 8 116.96x
Canterbury St Gregory 7 234.90x
Hackney London 7 1.88x
Shoreditch London 7 2.43x
Speen 7 85.89x
St Andrew Holborn 7 31.12x
Wherwell 7 569.11x
Windlesham 7 115.13x
Ashurst 6 714.29x
Bermondsey 6 3.04x
Birmingham 6 1.08x
Burnham 6 123.97x
Catmore 6 3000.00x
Farnham 6 23.88x
Findon 6 372.67x
Kensington London 6 1.63x
Lambeth 6 1.04x
Mile End Old Town 6 5.73x
Moore Critchell 6 722.89x
Newdigate 6 397.35x
Southampton St Mary 6 7.02x
Stoke Damerel 6 6.21x
Streatham 6 12.19x
Tonbridge 6 7.35x
Bristol St Stephen 5 147.93x
Broxbourne 5 55.19x
Burghfield 5 170.07x
Caputh 5 106.84x
Chevening 5 203.25x
Dewsbury 5 7.42x
Henfield 5 116.28x
Horsted Keynes 5 191.57x
Paddington London 5 2.05x
Petersfield 5 133.69x
Woking 5 25.67x
Babworth 4 240.96x
Battersea 4 1.64x
Bethnal Green London 4 1.39x
Bristol St George 4 6.65x
Chertsey 4 19.16x
Dorking 4 18.43x
Dover St James 4 40.32x
Frensham 4 84.21x
Friern Barnet 4 27.38x
Old Shoreham 4 714.29x
Rustington 4 487.80x
Salford 4 1.73x
St Luke London 4 3.76x
Bromley London 3 2.06x
Chester St John Baptist 3 11.40x
East Holme 3 1500.00x
Epsom 3 19.05x
Greenwich 3 2.84x
Hampstead London 3 2.90x
Leigh 3 101.35x
Stoke 3 19.67x
Teddington London 3 19.96x
West Hoathly 3 85.47x
Willesden 3 4.80x
Worth 3 36.95x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 41
John 34
George 21
James 21
Henry 20
Thomas 18
Charles 17
Edward 17
Harry 14
Alfred 9
Richard 8
Walter 8
Frederick 7
Ernest 6
Francis 6
Arthur 5
Edwin 5
Albert 4
Frank 4
Herbert 4
Joseph 3
Wm. 3
Absolom 2
Robert 2
Samuel 2
Stephen 2
Cecil 1
Clifton 1
Dennis 1
Dudley 1
E. 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Geoge 1
Gerald 1
Guy 1
H. 1
Harold 1
Jack 1
Jeffery 1
Jno. 1
Jno.Richd. 1
Louis 1
Mark 1
Martin 1
Michael 1
Montaque 1
Napier 1
Newton 1
Wm.Jn. 1

FAQ

Sturt surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sturt surname in 1881?

In 1881, 682 people were recorded with the Sturt surname. That placed it at #5,288 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sturt surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 785 in 2016. That gives Sturt a modern rank of #7,030.

What does the Sturt surname mean?

A topographic surname referring to a tough or vigorous person.

What does the Sturt map show?

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