Surname Stirrett - Meaning and Origin
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Stirrett: What does the surname Stirrett mean?
The surname Stirrett (or Stirrat) is found mainly in Scotland. It is derived from the Old French word "estrade" which means raised platform or staircase. The name is thought to have originally been used to describe someone who was a stair builder or had some other connection with stairs.
The Stirrett spelling is believed to have first appeared in Scotland in the late 17th century, when the Scottish Highlanders began to make their way south. There are now many variations of the Stirrett surname including Stiretts, Stirettes, Stirret and Stiret.
The Stirrett surname has been linked with several prominent Scottish families, including the Stirlings of Kintyre and Dunbarton, the Stewarts of Galloway, and the Stewarts of Appin. The name is also found in Canada, the USA and Australia, mainly concentrations in places such as Ontario and Lanarkshire in Scotland.
The Stirrett surname is a proud one, evoking imagery of craftsmanship and hard work. It can be an enduring reminder of Scotland’s proud history. The owners of the surname Stirrett today, are part of a long lineage of individuals who left a lasting legacy in the lands they left behind.
Order DNA origin analysisStirrett: Where does the name Stirrett come from?
The last name Stirrett is believed to be of English origin, though it is not common today. It is difficult to trace exactly when and from where the surname originated. Records indicate it has existed since at least the 16th century.
Today, the Stirrett surname is most prevalent in England and Scotland, particularly in Yorkshire, Lancashire and other northern parts of England. There are other occurrences in Canada, the United States and Australia that are likely the descendants of immigrants who left the British Isles in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
It is believed the surname Stirrett comes from the Old English word 'streot', which means street or way. It may have started as a nickname for someone who lived near a road or resided on a thoroughfare or even had the role of using sticks and poles to measure distances when distributing lands among farmers or taking property taxes.
However, the exact origin of the surname is somewhat ambiguous. It is not entirely understood why it is not particularly common today, despite its prevalence hundreds of years ago. It is likely that other forms and spellings, particularly Struttell and Strudel, replaced it throughout the centuries.
Variations of the surname Stirrett
The Stirrett surname is believed to originate in Scotland, and has several different variants, spellings and surnames of Scottish origins. These include Stirton, Startin, Straton, Starton, Sturton and Starten. In some instances, the 'u' can be dropped off from these variant spellings and be written as Stratten, Staton, Statton, Stellon and Stalton.
The variants of this surname can be broken down into two groups: those with the prefixes 'Stur' versus 'Strat'. Some of the more uncommon and less frequently seen variants of Stirrett are Strickland, Strath, Starratt, Strachey and Stracey. Other variants have become more widespread as a result of migration and emigration such as Stickler, Strich, Stretton, Steerett, Stirratt, Stirritt and Stiret.
The Stirrett surname is also known to have variant spellings from England. These include Sturet, Storrott, Stratte and Starrett. Similarly, variants of Stirrett from Ireland include Strutty, Struitt, Strutts and Strut.
Due to its Scottish origin, the Stirrett name is sometimes used interchangeably with variations of Scottish surnames such as Stuart, Storey, Storer, Storry, Struthers and Struthers.
Overall, the Stirrett surname has many different variants, spellings and surnames originating from Scotland, England and Ireland. Despite the spelling differences, all of these variations ultimately trace back to the same origin.
Famous people with the name Stirrett
- Mark Stirrett: former professional footballer who played for Airdrieonians, Livingston, Southend United, and others.
- John Stirrat: investment banker and investor in real estate and telecommunications companies.
- Malcolme Stirrett: former British Army Officer and Rhodesian politician.
- Emily Stirrett: Australian jazz vocalist and songwriter.
- William Duncan Stirrett: Canadian politician who served in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick from 1925 to 1933.
- Melville Stirrett: first permanent resident of Hendon, Saskatchewan.
- James Stirrett: British Liberal Party politician.
- Mary McCombe Stirrett: first woman to be ordained as a Presbyterian minister in Canada.
- Chris Stirrett: American singer-songwriter and musician, member of rock band Rooney.
- Jeff Stirrett: American football player who was part of the 1988 and 1989 University of Miami National Championship teams.