Surname Stearns - Meaning and Origin

Unveiling the Origins of the Stearns Surname Through my IGENEA DNA Test Results

The findings from my IGENEA DNA test provide a captivating exploration of the Stearns surname in my ancestry. The results uncover fascinating links between the Stearns surname and regions across Europe, while the scientific examination of my genetic history draws correlations between my ancestral origins and key historical movements.

O. Stearns

Stearns: What does the surname Stearns mean?

The surname Stearns is of English origin. It is derived from the Middle English personal name Stern, which is the English form of the Old Norse name 'Stjorn'. In Old Norse, "stjarna" means star, implying the original name-bearer might have been someone who was leading or outstanding, like a star. In some cases, it could also be a nickname for someone who had a conspicuous or an ornamental brooch in the shape of a star. The name became very popular after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. There are variant spellings of Stearns such as Stern, Sterns, Styrr, Styr, Sterne, and others. The surname first surfaced in the ancient records in Cheshire, England. Another origin of the name may be topographical, given to someone living at the stern of a ship. As with many surnames, the exact derivation may never be known as the early records and documentations are often lost or in fragments. However, the name has persisted over centuries, handed down through generations.

Stearns: Where does the name Stearns come from?

The surname Stearns is most common today in the United States, and some parts of Canada. It is not as prevalent in other English-speaking nations. According to public records, Stearns is the 3,090th most common name in the United States.

The regions with the highest concentration of individuals bearing the Stearns name are Michigan, PMaine, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Colorado, Ohio, Vermont, Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Traceable records of the Stearns surname began emerging in the 1500s in England, with William Stearns and Edward Stearns cited as two of the earliest individuals bearing the name. As with many other surnames, the Stearns name may have been derived from a place-name—in this instance "Atte Sterns," which is thought to have derived from an old English word "sterne" which means a stream of fast-flowing water.

Variations of the Stearns surname include Sterns, Stearne, Sterne and Stearns. Common variants of Stearns also include Sterne, Starnes and Sternes. The surname's popularity amongst British emigrants who settled in colonial America likely helped spread the Stearns name throughout the country.

Despite originating in Britain, there are not currently any records of individuals bearing the Stearns surname living in Britain. There are, however, a growing number of Stearns families bearing the name spread throughout the United States and Canada.

Variations of the surname Stearns

The surname Stearns is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and derived from the Old English words stearn, "bold," and staer, "stronger." The name can be found in records as early as 1296 and is still common today.

Common variations of the surname include Stearns, Sterns, Sternes, Sterns, Stermes, Sterness, Starnes, Starns, Sterne, and Sturne. These forms of the name mostly originated in England, Scotland and Ireland. In some cases, Stearns has been changed to a more Gaelic sounding version, such as O'Sternes and O'Steurns.

Stearns is also sometimes found as an Americanized spelling of Sterns, a Germanic surname originating in modern-day Lower Saxony. In this case, the spelling was altered upon arrival in the United States to better accommodate English spelling conventions.

Other censored surnames for Stearns include Steark, Sterk and Sterck. These names are most likely derived from the Middle Dutch language and were found as early as 1214.

Today, the Stearns surname is most common in the United States, England, Scotland, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

Famous people with the name Stearns

• Andy Stearns: an American singer and producer
• Chuck Stearns: an American science fiction author
• Clarence Stearns: an American actor and photographer
• Dana Stearns: an American photographer
• David Stearns: an American Major League Baseball executive
• Donald Stearns: an American professional tennis player
• George F. Stearns: an American politician
• Ira Stearns: an English football player
• John Stearns: an American Major League Baseball player
• Jonah Stearns: an American minister and educator
• Justin Stearns: an American animator
• Marshall Stearns: an American academic, jazz critic and historian
• Paul Stearns: an American Emmy Award winning television producer
• Peter Stearns: an American historian
• Richard Stearns: an American CEO and author
• Robert Stearns: an American landscape painter
• Scott Stearns: an American Olympic rower
• William Stearns: an American politician
• William Stearns Davis: an American novelist and poet

Other surnames

StearSteareStearesStearmanStears