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

Stours, 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 Stours surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Stours in America

Stours is the 68345th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Stours surname appeared 288 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 Stours.

We can also compare 2010 data for Stours 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 Stours

The surname Stours has its origins in England, with the earliest records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "stour," which means a battle or conflict, suggesting that the name may have been initially given to someone who was known for their bravery or skill in combat.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, where it is spelled "Sture." This document lists landowners and tenants in various counties, indicating that the Stours family likely held land or property during that time.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "Stowre" and "Sture," in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex and Worcestershire. These rolls were tax records, further solidifying the presence of the Stours family in different regions of England.

Notably, the Stours surname is closely associated with the village of Stourton in Wiltshire, which was once known as "Stour-ton" or "Stour Town." This suggests that the name may have originated from this location, with members of the Stours family potentially hailing from or being associated with this area.

One notable figure with the surname Stours was Sir John Stours, a Member of Parliament who represented Shropshire in the early 15th century. Another prominent individual was William Stours, a merchant and alderman in the city of Bristol during the late 16th century.

In the 17th century, the Stours family expanded their presence across England, with records showing members residing in counties such as Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, and Warwickshire. During this period, the spelling of the name stabilized to its modern form, "Stours."

Other notable individuals with the Stours surname include:

1. Richard Stours (1550-1627), an English clergyman and author of religious works.
2. Edward Stours (1590-1672), a member of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and one of the founders of the town of Hingham, Massachusetts.
3. Elizabeth Stours (1620-1690), an English Quaker and author, known for her writings on religious subjects.
4. Thomas Stours (1670-1742), a successful merchant and landowner in Gloucestershire, England.
5. Henry Stours (1725-1803), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War.

While the Stours surname may not be as widespread as some other English surnames, its historical significance and associations with various regions and notable figures make it a fascinating name to explore.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Stours

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

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

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

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