Surname Sturman - Meaning and Origin
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Sturman: What does the surname Sturman mean?
Sturman is an English surname of Old Norse origin that means "helmsman" or "steersman". Its roots can be traced back to the occupation of a person who had the duty of steering a ship, thus, coming from terms like 'styrimann' or 'styrman'. It became popular after the Norman Conquest in 1066, where Old Norse names and language left a significant influence on the English naming tradition. Over time, the spelling and pronunciation of many such names changed or got anglicized, resulting in variants like Sturman, Stirman or Sterman. It is important to understand that early English or British last names were often linked to occupations, making them a fascinating reflection of the medieval jobs that were once prevalent in society. Today, the surname Sturman is found in various parts of the world, carried forward by the descendants of those early steerers and helmsmen.
Order DNA origin analysisSturman: Where does the name Sturman come from?
The surname Sturman is of German origin and is most commonly found in Germany and in countries with large German emigrant populations, such as the United States and Brazil. In Germany, the surname Sturman is most common in North Rhine-Westphalia, an area known for its population of people tracing their ancestors back to Germany. In the United States, the surname is most commonly found in Pennsylvania and its surrounding states as well as states with strong historical ties to Germany, such as Wisconsin. In Brazil, the surname was likely adopted by German immigrants in the late 1800s and 1900s and is today most commonly found in the south and southeast regions of the country, such as in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.
The surname Sturman is not particularly common in other parts of the world, although there are instances of the name in places such as Canada and the United Kingdom. Howevere, it is still rare enough that you are unlikely to find more than a handful of people with the surname in those places.
Variations of the surname Sturman
The surname Sturman has numerous different variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The different versions of this surname include Storeman, Storman, Storeyman, Stureman, Sturman, Styrman, Sterman, Storerman, Strorman, Storman, Storemane, Stuyman, Storeymane, Stoerman, Sturmann, Styrmann, Storeymans, Sturmans, Storman, Stermans, Stormons, Stormans, Sturmons, Stormer, Storermans, Sturmman, Sturmane, Stoermann, and Storrmahn.
Most of these surnames are derived from the Old English term 'ster,' which means 'steer' or 'cow.' This word likely served as an occupational name for someone who kept cows or tended cattle. Similarly, some spellings might have also derived from an Old English word 'stierman,' which means 'guard of the cattle.'
The spelling variations of the name Sturman may also have resulted from the fact that Middle English was often spelled according to the phonetics of its pronunciations. Hence, several versions of this surname probably arose from how a particular region pronounced the word.
The spelling Sturman is also found in Germany, while spelling variants such as Storrmahn are found in the Netherlands, and the Sturman surname is fairly common in Ireland. Regardless of its origin, the surnames Sturman, Storeman, Storman, and their various spellings all likely refer to the same ancestor.
Famous people with the name Sturman
- Abigail Sturman: Founding Member and lead vocalist of the girl group, Prettymuch.
- Max Sturman: Professional soccer player and former member of the US National Team in the 1980s.
- Kalman Sturman: Hungarian-American film director and screenwriter.
- Moishe Sturman: Noted rabbi and Jewish spiritual leader of the 19th century.
- Barbara Kurtz Sturman: US ambassador to Costa Rica from 2011-2015.
- Dubi Sturman: Israeli Special Forces soldier killed during the Yom Kippur War in 1973.
- David Sturman: Award-winning philanthropist and businessman who founded the Kayan Foundation.
- Sarah Sturman: American CEO of Dapple Baby and infant lifestyle product company.
- Shaun Sturman: Northern Irish footballer and current manager of Crusaders FC.
- Charles Sturman: Astronomer and astronomer emeritus at Lowell Observatory.