Sturgill
A surname that most likely grew as a regional spelling of a place-based name, probably tied to an older English place-name element.
The #4,196 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 36,564 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Sturgill is generally treated as an English surname, probably developed from a place-name or topographic name rather than from an occupation or personal nickname. The first element is often linked with an old English river or marsh-related form, while the second may reflect a hill or stream-related ending, though the exact original place behind the name is not firmly established. In practice, Sturgill is best understood as a surname that arose through regional pronunciation and later spelling fixation.
History
The surname is uncommon and is especially familiar in the United States, where it is found in Appalachian and nearby regions. Like many English-origin surnames, it likely survived in a handful of local family lines after spelling stabilized in America. Because the name is rare and the early documentary trail is thin, its precise source-place remains uncertain.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
In many surname histories, rare regional spellings like Sturgill preserve older local pronunciations that standard spelling later smoothed out.