Stirk History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Stirk

What does the name Stirk mean?

The Stirk name is said to be derived from the old Anglo-Saxon name "Styrgar" which appeared in Mercia in ancient times. "Styrgar" denoted a battle spear.

Another source claims the name was derived from "the name of an ancestor, 'the son of Thurgis or Turgis,' with prefixed 's'." 1

And another claims the name is from the Old Swedish "Thorgisl," meaning "Thor's hostage." 2

Early Origins of the Stirk family

The surname Stirk was first found in Northamptonshire where they held a family seat. This Anglo-Saxon family name appears to have been undisturbed by the Norman invasion of 1066 A.D., retaining their estates in Northamptonshire. Clipston, their family seat, was not granted to one of the Norman nobles after the victory at Hastings, and remained the 'King's Land' according to the Domesday Book, 3 a survey taken by Duke William of Normandy in 1086 A.D.

However, the aforementioned Domesday Book does list Hugo filius Turgisi as holding lands in Shropshire. 3 Other early entries include: Turgis Hy in Lincolnshire; Thurgis filius Owani in the Assize Rolls for Warwickshire in 1221; Henry Turgis in the Pipe Rolls for Wiltshire in 1210; Adam Thurgis in the Hundredorum Rolls for Bedfordshire in 1279; John Sturgys in the Feet of Fines for Cambridgeshire in 1353; Joan Sturge at Colchester in 1379; and Richard Sturges in London in 1481. 2

As noted, early rolls had a mix of the "T" and "S" prefix. The History of Norfolk includes: Thurgis le Caldccote, Norfolk, temp. King John; Thurgis (without surname), Lincolnshire; Turgeus de Gorton, Suffolk; Turgisius de Heredefeld, Kent; William Thurgys, Wiltshire; Adam Thurgis, Bedfordshire; and Richard Turgis, Wiltshire. 4

A century later the "S" had moved to the front of the name as seen in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379: Johannes Sturgys; Johannes Sturgys, junior. 1

Early History of the Stirk family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Stirk research. Another 116 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1629, 1634, 1646, 1666 and 1785 are included under the topic Early Stirk History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Stirk Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Sturgis, Sturges, Sturgiss, Sturgess, Sturge, Sturch, Sturk and many more.

Early Notables of the Stirk family

More information is included under the topic Early Stirk Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Stirk migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Stirk Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

George Stirk, who arrived in New England in 1646 5

Stirk migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Stirk Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

John Stirk, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749

Contemporary Notables of the name Stirk (post 1700) +

Samuel Stirk, American politician, Delegate to Continental Congress from Georgia, 1781; Georgia State Attorney General, 1781-85; County Judge in Georgia, 1786-89 6
John Stirk (b. 1955), English former footballer from Consett, England, active 1973 through 1983
Sarah Stirk, British television presenter for Sky News

The Stirk Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Esse quam videri
Motto Translation: To be, rather than to seem.

Sources +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 17) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html