Surname Strawn - Meaning and Origin

Strawn: What does the surname Strawn mean?

The surname Strawn is of English origin and is considered to be derived from a geographical locality. It is likely connected to locations called "Stroan" or "Strone" in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The word itself in the English context could mean ‘at the sedge or rush’. Sedge or rush refers to a type of plant that generally grows in damp or marshy landscapes. It's also possible that the surname represents an anglicized form of a German or Jewish surname. As with most surnames, the exact origin may be hard to determine due to factors such as migration, name changes, or spelling variations over the centuries. The distribution of the Strawn surname is most prevalent in the United States, with a smaller presence in countries like Canada, England, and Australia.

Strawn: Where does the name Strawn come from?

The last name Strawn is most common today in the United States. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the last name Strawn is most heavily concentrated in the state of Texas. It is also present in Arizona, North Carolina, and California. In the small towns of Kaufman and Collin counties in Texas, the last name Strawn makes up an estimated 1.9% and 0.5%, respectively, of total population.

Outside of the United States, the last name Strawn is found in Canada and Northern Ireland in relatively small numbers.

The earliest records of the last name Strawn can be traced to the mid-1700s in the United States, with instances of the name being found near present-day North Carolina, Virginia, and Pennsylvania.

The origin of the last name Strawn isn't certain, though it is believed that it is derived from a personal name, or an inheritable nickname for someone who was tall or strong. As with many last names of English origins, the last name Strawn is likely to have been passed down through generations of a single family.

It is possible that the last name Strawn originated in Scotland. Indeed, the surname Victoria Strawn, who was born c. 1751 in Augusta County, Virginia, is believed to have been of Scottish descent, and it is likely that some of her American descendants share the same origin.

Variations of the surname Strawn

The surname Strawn is of Anglo-Saxon origin and has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These include Strawn, Straun, Streon, Straon, Strone, Straten, Stain, and Strang. It is also an occasional variation of the surnames Strang, Strong, and Stronge.

The surname Strawn typically referred to a descendant of or person from whom hailed from a place called Straen, a small settlement in the East Anglia region of England. There were several variations of Straen during the Middle Ages, including Streon, Straon, Straten, and Strang.

As the families who held the surname Strawn moved away from home, they adopted other variants or main spellings of the surname, such as Strang, Strong, or Stronge. The name could also sometimes be Anglicized as StraHn or Strayne. Some of these surnames became synonymous with the original.

Most variants of the surname Strawn originate from the Old English “stren,” which means a hard or strong person. It is also possible that the name was derived from a location named Streon, Strand, or Strane. It is worth noting that many variants of the surname Strawn are found in Scotland and Northern Ireland, suggesting that the family may have emigrated there from England at some point.

The Strawn name can occasionally be seen spelled as Strawne, Strawney, Strawny, Strom, Stroom, Stroam, and Strume. It is also an occasional spelling of the surnames Sheeran, Shea, Shern, and Shirran.

Famous people with the name Strawn

• Matt Strawn: Matt Strawn is the former Chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa. He was appointeed by the Iowa GOP Central Committee in June of 2009, and held the position until December 2011.
• Thomas B. Strawn: Thomas B. Strawn was an American politician who served as the 8th Governor of Iowa from 1901 to 1905. He was a prominent member of the Republican Party, and a vocal supporter of railroad and business regulation.
• Becky Strawn: Becky Strawn is a singer/songwriter from Virginia. Her musical style blends elements of folk, country, and Americana. Her debut album “Drive” was released in 2017.
• Dave Strawn: Dave Strawn is an American retired professional golfer who is best known for winning the 1986 PGA Senior Tour Championship. After retiring from competitive golf in 2000, he was inducted into the Midlands Golf Association Hall of Fame in 2001.
• Johnathan Strawn: Johnathan Strawn is an award-winning country music singer/songwriter from Texas. He has penned several hit singles for some of the biggest names in the industry, including Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, and Blake Shelton.
• William E. Strawn Jr.: William E. Strawn Jr. is a retired United States Army general who served as commanding general of the Eighth Army in the Pacific Ocean from 1983 to 1986. After retiring from the military, he became the president of Western Kentucky University from 1992 to 1997.
• David Strawn: David Strawn is an American painter and graphic designer from Ohio. He is best known for his use of vibrant colors and intricate geometric designs. His art has been featured in numerous galleries and private collections throughout the country.
• Anna Strawn: Anna Strawn was an American poet from Ohio. She was posthumously awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1943 for her collection of poetry “The Spreading Oak”.
• Bob Strawn: Bob Strawn is an American actor from Wisconsin. He is known for starring in films such as “A River Runs Through It” and “Waterworld”. He has also appeared in television shows such as “Alias” and “The X-Files”.
• Diana Strawn: Diana Strawn is an American actress from California. She is known for playing small roles in television shows such as “Glee”, “Scream Queens”, and “Mad Men”.

Other surnames

StrawderStrawhunStrawtherStrawthers