Sturgeon

Etymology

The surname comes from the word for the sturgeon fish. The form passed through Old French and Latin, and ultimately goes back to a Germanic word seen in Old High German and Old English forms meaning a sturgeon. In medieval records, the name is usually spelled Sturgeon, with Sturgion appearing later as a variant.

History

Historical sources treat Sturgeon mainly as a nickname surname, though one writer notes that it may sometimes have functioned like other animal-based surnames that could also be taken as personal names. The name is found in English records by the 14th century, including Yorkshire examples, and it remained established in later centuries. It is uncommon but well attested in Britain and later in the United States.

Origin

Regions

Variant spellings

Fun fact

Animal surnames like Sturgeon were often memorable enough to stick even when they began as jokes, bynames, or references to a signboard.