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

Sturkey, 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 Sturkey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sturkey in America

Sturkey is the 53667th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sturkey surname appeared 385 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 Sturkey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sturkey 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 Sturkey

The surname Sturkey has its origins in the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of England. It is believed to have originated from the Old English word 'storc', meaning 'stork'. During the Middle Ages, many surnames were derived from nicknames based on physical characteristics or observations of nature, and it is likely that the Sturkey name was initially given to someone who resembled or was associated with the stork bird.

The earliest recorded instance of the Sturkey surname can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as 'Storcheie', which is thought to be an early spelling variation.

In the 13th century, a Nicholas Sturkey was documented as a landowner in the village of Sturkey, located in the county of Worcestershire. It is possible that the surname may have derived from this place name, which itself may have been named after an early bearer of the Sturkey surname.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the Sturkey surname was Sir John Sturkey (1420-1487), a prominent English politician and landowner during the Wars of the Roses. He served as a Member of Parliament for Worcestershire and was a staunch supporter of the House of York.

Another noteworthy figure was Thomas Sturkey (1553-1617), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the Dean of Ely Cathedral. He was renowned for his theological writings and contributions to the field of education.

In the 18th century, William Sturkey (1712-1783) was a respected merchant and shipowner based in the city of Bristol. He played a significant role in the transatlantic trade between England and the American colonies.

During the Victorian era, Elizabeth Sturkey (1829-1901) was a prominent social reformer and advocate for women's rights. She campaigned tirelessly for the improvement of working conditions for women and children in industrial cities.

Throughout its history, the Sturkey surname has been associated with various professions and social classes, from landed gentry and clergy to merchants and reformers. While the name has evolved in spelling over the centuries, its origins remain rooted in the Anglo-Saxon heritage of England.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sturkey

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

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

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

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