Sturgis
An English surname that likely began as a medieval variant of Sturges, itself tied to an old nickname or family form that later settled into a hereditary name.
The #5,863 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 52,463 Americans shares it.
Etymology
The historical evidence points to Sturgis as a spelling variant of Sturges, with medieval records showing forms such as Johannes Sturgys in Yorkshire in 1379. The exact root is not fully secure, but the name is usually connected with the older Sturge/Sturges group rather than a direct occupational meaning. Some 19th-century writers linked it to older personal-name forms, but the precise derivation remains uncertain.
History
The surname is documented in late medieval England and appears to have developed as one of several closely related spellings, including Sturge, Sturges, and Sturgess. It survived into modern English-speaking usage, with later bearers especially visible in Britain and the United States. The surname is uncommon today, but it remains established as a family name rather than a given name.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
A Yorkshire Poll Tax record from 1379 preserves one of the earliest forms, Johannes Sturgys.
From the historical record
“STURGESS STURGIS Johannes Sturgys.— Yorks Poll-Tax, A.D. 1379. STURM (Storm): see the Appendix of Foreign Names. STURM AN (Eng.) i Ox-Man or -Herd [v. under Sture', Steer, and + man]”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)