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

Sternke, 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 Sternke surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sternke in America

Sternke is the 151532nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sternke surname appeared 108 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 Sternke.

The history of the last name Sternke

The surname Sternke is of German origin, derived from the word "Stern" meaning "star." It is believed to have originated in the medieval period, likely as a descriptive surname for someone who lived near a prominent star-shaped landmark or who was known for their stellar qualities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Sternke can be found in the records of the city of Hamburg, Germany, where a merchant named Johann Sternke is mentioned in a business transaction dated 1453. In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing this surname was the German philosopher and mathematician Michael Sternke (1522-1589), who made significant contributions to the fields of astronomy and geometry.

The name Sternke was also found in the Duchy of Mecklenburg, where a family of nobles bore this surname. One of the most prominent members of this family was Baron Friedrich von Sternke (1678-1742), a military leader who served in the Thirty Years' War and later became a respected statesman.

In the 18th century, a renowned artist named Johann Christian Sternke (1719-1801) was born in the town of Altona, which is now part of Hamburg. His intricate woodcarvings and sculptures adorned many churches and public buildings throughout northern Germany.

Another notable figure with this surname was the German explorer and naturalist Carl Sternke (1792-1856), who traveled extensively in South America and made significant contributions to the study of its flora and fauna.

As the centuries passed, the surname Sternke spread to other parts of Europe and beyond, carried by those who immigrated or traveled. Despite its relatively uncommon nature, the name has persisted, reflecting the enduring legacy of its remarkable bearers throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sternke

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

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 Sternke 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.

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 Sternke was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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