Find out how popular the last name Sterken is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Sterken.

Sterken, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Sterken surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sterken in America

Sterken is the 59324th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sterken surname appeared 341 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Sterken.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sterken to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Sterken

The surname Sterken is believed to have originated in the Netherlands and Belgium, with roots dating back to the 16th century. Its earliest recorded spelling was "Stercke," derived from the Dutch word "sterk," meaning "strong" or "sturdy." This indicates that the name was likely bestowed upon an individual with a powerful or robust physique.

In the early 17th century, the name appeared in various Dutch and Flemish records, such as the Leiden Marriage Registers of 1610, which listed a certain Jan Stercken. Another notable entry was found in the Gent Parish Records of 1623, where a Pieter Stercken was mentioned.

The Sterken surname is closely associated with the city of Antwerp, where several families bearing this name were prominent merchants and traders in the 16th and 17th centuries. One such individual was Hendrick Sterken (1570-1642), a successful silk merchant who established a thriving business in Antwerp.

During the 17th century, some Sterken families migrated to other parts of Europe, including Germany and England. In 1685, the name was recorded in the Brandenburg Emigration Lists, which documented the movement of people from the Low Countries to the Prussian territories.

One notable Sterken was Jan Sterken (1685-1763), a Dutch painter known for his landscapes and seascapes. His works can be found in various museums across Europe, including the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

In the 18th century, the name appeared in several English records, such as the Westminster Marriage Registers of 1712, which listed a marriage between William Sterken and Mary Browne.

Another prominent figure was Pieter Sterken (1799-1876), a Dutch politician and jurist who served as the Minister of Justice in the Netherlands from 1858 to 1860.

As the Sterken family spread across Europe and beyond, variations in spelling emerged, including Sterke, Sterk, and Stercken. However, the core meaning of the name, derived from the Dutch word "sterk," remained consistent throughout its history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sterken

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Sterken.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Sterken was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Sterken has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Sterken was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Sterken, please contact us.

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