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

Sturgis, 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 Sturgis surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sturgis in America

Sturgis is the 5863rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sturgis surname appeared 5,885 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Sturgis.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sturgis 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 Sturgis

The surname Sturgis is believed to have originated in England, with its roots dating back to the 11th century. It is derived from the Old English words "sturgeon" and "hithe," which together referred to a landing place or port where sturgeon fish were brought ashore.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Sturgis name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was listed as "Sturgie" in the county of Oxfordshire. This suggests that the name may have initially been associated with individuals who lived or worked near a sturgeon landing place.

During the Middle Ages, the name evolved into various spellings, including Sturges, Sturgess, and Sturgis. These variations likely emerged due to regional dialects and the inconsistencies in spelling practices at the time.

In the 14th century, records show a Thomas Sturgis who was a prominent landowner in the county of Dorset. Another notable figure was John Sturgis, born around 1550, who served as a member of the English Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

The Sturgis surname also has connections to place names. For example, the town of Sturgis in South Dakota, founded in 1878, was named after a surveyor named John Sturgis. Similarly, the village of Sturgis in Mississippi was named after a local landowner named Sturgis in the early 19th century.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Sturgis surname. These include:

1. William Sturgis (1782-1863), an American merchant and philanthropist from Massachusetts.
2. Russell Sturgis (1805-1887), an American architect and writer on architecture.
3. Julian Sturgis (1836-1904), an American lawyer and author from Massachusetts.
4. Howard Overing Sturgis (1855-1920), an English novelist and poet.
5. William Codman Sturgis (1877-1944), an American architect and educator from Massachusetts.

The Sturgis name has been carried across generations and has maintained its presence in various parts of the world, particularly in English-speaking countries. While its origins can be traced back to England, the name has evolved and spread, reflecting the diverse histories and migrations of families over centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sturgis

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

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

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

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