Surname Sturgeon - Meaning and Origin

Tracing Echoes of the Past: Unravelling the History of the Sturgeon Surname through iGENEA DNA Analysis

Delving into my family's past through a DNA analysis at iGENEA proved an enlightening experience, unravelling the rich history of my surname Sturgeon, tracing its origins to the British Isles, and tracking the migration paths of my ancestors. Discovering my inclusion in the R1b haplogroup underscored a deep-rooted Celtic connection that expanded my understanding of my ethnological context.

P. Sturgeon

Sturgeon: What does the surname Sturgeon mean?

The last name Sturgeon is an English and Scottish name derived from an occupational surname. This type of surname was usually given to a person who had a job related to the sturgeon fish, such as fisher, trader, or seller. In some cases, the name may originate from a nickname, since "sturgeon" is believed to be derived from the Old English word "styren," which means "to subdue."

In earlier times, the fish were plentiful and highly valued, especially as a source of caviar. The sturgeon were seen as a symbol of prestige and power, so anyone associated with them, including people with the last name Sturgeon, were seen as having some sort of financial gain associated to them.

Today, the Sturgeon surname is still found in many places around the world, such as in England, Scotland, Wales, and the United States. In the United States, the most common spelling of the name is Sturges, which is also the name of several places throughout the country.

The Sturgeon surname continues to be associated with a strong work ethic. People with this last name are usually fair minded and capable of solving problems on their own. They take great pride in their work and always complete their tasks with the utmost integrity. They are healthy and usually quite successful in whatever they pursue, and they often stick to the same career path for a long time.

Sturgeon: Where does the name Sturgeon come from?

The last name Sturgeon is most commonly found in the United States. According to the United States Census Bureau, there are over 19,000 individuals in the United States (as of 2018) with the last name Sturgeon. Interestingly, of those individuals, roughly 95% reside in the southern and midwestern regions. More specifically, the state of Tennessee has the highest concentration of Sturgons, with almost 3,000 people having the name. Kansas and Indiana follow with more than 2,000 Sturgons, and Mississippi, Georgia, and Illinois round out the top 5 states with the highest numbers of Sturgons.

The United Kingdom also has its share of Sturgons, with around 4,000 people having the last name. The majority of them are located in England and Scotland, although some have also been found in Wales and Northern Ireland. Outside of North America and the U.K., Sturgons can be found in Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand.

The origin of the Sturgeon name is believed to be of British-Scots descent and derived from the Middle English word sturjeon, which means 'thorn bush'. This indicates that the first Sturgons were likely settlers or immigrants from the British Isles. Over the centuries, the name spread from its origin and is now found on nearly every continent in the world.

Variations of the surname Sturgeon

The surname Sturgeon originates from England and Scotland where it was derived from the Middle English word for a river fish or from when a person lived near a body of water that was known for its sturgeon. The variants of Sturgeon which are common include St or Sturr, as well as other spellings such as Sturgeon, Sturgin, Sturges, Sturge and Sturgess. In some instances, the spelling of the surname may have also been influenced by the Latin form, Sturgionis, making for additional variants, such as Sturgione, Sturgon and Sturgen.

In Scotland, the variants of the surname Sturgeon may include Mac an Tursuinn, MacanTursuinn, MacTorsan and Mac Sturran among others. In Ireland, lesser known variants may include Stratford and Stower, while other derivatives may include the names Sturr or Sturge.

In some instances, the surname Sturgeon may also be linked to other names such as Sturrock, Sturtevant and Sturman, however these names can have different origins from that of the traditional Sturgeon surname.

Other, less common, spellings and surnames related to the traditional Sturgeon name may include Stargeon, Stergeon, Stimson, and Sturtevant. These variants, however, are uncommon and rare to find.

Famous people with the name Sturgeon

• Ross Lauder Sturgeon: Canadian Senator
• Jim Sturgeon: Canadian politician
• Fred Sturgeon: Canadian politician
• David Sturgeon: Canadian politician
• Sidney Oppenheim Sturgeon: Canadian-born American Army Major General
• Henry David Sturgeon: Canadian politician
• Phoebe Sturgeon: American actress
• Hugh Aitcheson Sturgeon: United States Navy sailor
• King Sturgeon: Canadian folk singer
• Richard O. Sturgeon: United States Navy admiral

Other surnames

Sturgen