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

Sturgeon, 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 Sturgeon surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sturgeon in America

Sturgeon is the 3950th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sturgeon surname appeared 9,007 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Sturgeon.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sturgeon 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 Sturgeon

The surname Sturgeon is of English origin, derived from the name of the fish "sturgeon". The name is believed to have originated as an occupational surname, referring to someone who caught or traded in sturgeons, a type of large, edible fish found in coastal waters and rivers.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Sturgeon dates back to the late 12th century. In the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1195, there is a reference to a person named Radulfus Sturgun. This early spelling variation highlights the connection to the fish's name.

During the medieval period, the surname Sturgeon was particularly prevalent in areas near major rivers and coastal regions, where sturgeon fishing and trade were common. It was found in counties such as Lincolnshire, Norfolk, and Essex, as well as in the cities of London and York.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname Sturgeon was John Sturgeon (c. 1460-1512), an English merchant and alderman of the City of London. He served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1511-1512.

Another prominent individual was William Sturgeon (1783-1850), an English scientist and inventor. He is credited with the development of the first practical electromagnet, which laid the foundation for the construction of electric motors and generators.

In the 16th century, the surname Sturgeon appeared in the parish records of Stoke-by-Nayland, Suffolk. In 1566, a Richard Sturgeon was recorded as a resident of the parish.

During the 17th century, the name Sturgeon was found in various parts of England, including the counties of Suffolk, Essex, and Lincolnshire. Notable bearers of the name during this period include John Sturgeon (1613-1668), a Church of England clergyman who served as the Rector of Bawburgh in Norfolk.

The 18th century saw the Sturgeon surname spread to other parts of the British Isles, including Scotland and Wales. One Scottish bearer of note was Robert Sturgeon (1728-1790), a minister in the Church of Scotland who served as the Moderator of the General Assembly in 1786.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sturgeon

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

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

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

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