Surname Sturgen - Meaning and Origin

Sturgen: What does the surname Sturgen mean?

The last name Sturgen is of German origin and is derived from the Old German name Sturgaus which consists of the words ‘sturm’ meaning ‘storm’ and ‘gau’ meaning ‘district’. The first recorded mention of this name comes from the 11th century and was most likely descriptive in nature, referring to an individual who hailed from a settlement that was frequently battered by storms.

Widespread use of this name was first recorded in the 13th century in various parts of Germany, primarily in the eastern regions. It is believed that individuals who possessed this surname had a connection to the noble Sturgen family in Mecklenburg, a name that is believed to recently have become more closely related to the Swedish Störgen.

The name Sturgen is still in use today, primarily in Germany, although it is also found in other parts of the world through emigration. Those who possess this surname are believed to display qualities such as resilience, strength, and perseverance, which can all be attributed to the storm-like connotations of the name.

Sturgen: Where does the name Sturgen come from?

The last name Sturgen is common today in many different countries including the United States, Germany, Switzerland, France, and Austria. In the United States, some of the states with the highest population of people with the last name Sturgen are Texas, Illinois, California, New York, and Pennsylvania.

In Germany, the State of North Rhine-Westphalia has one of the highest concentration of people with the last name Sturgen. This region is in western Germany and is the area with the largest population in the country. The city of Dusseldorf has recorded 293,900 people with the Sturgen surname.

In France, the last name Sturgen is common in eastern France, especially in Alsace-Lorraine area. This area is in the northeast of France and close to the border to Germany. The city of Strasbourg has 108,000 people with the Sturgen last name, making it the most populous city in France with the surname.

In Switzerland, the most populous area is the canton of Valais. The region also has close ties to nearby France and Germany and is home to 15,777 people who bear the Sturgen last name.

Overall, Sturgen is a very common last name with people living in multiple countries around the world. It is a traditional European name that has its origins in Germany, and can still be found in many different countries today.

Variations of the surname Sturgen

The surname Sturgen is a variation of the surname Sturgess, which is of English origins. It is thought to have originated in the West Midlands area of England and can be derived from the Old French ‘estourgis’, a term that was once derived from a Latin phrase meaning ‘to break off’. Within England, it is a rare surname.

Sturgen is often misspelt Sturgon, Sturgeon and Sturges. Additionally the name may have also derived from a place or geographical origin, with Sturgen Place found in the Staffordshire parish of Bucknall. There is also the village of Stourton near Birmingham, which may also have influenced the etymology of the name.

Sturgen is also the shortened version of Sturges. Sturges, or the surname Sturgis, is thought to have originated in Wales. It is derived from the Welsh ‘stwres’, which loosely translates as a settlement on a stony bank. It is thought that many of those who took this name were originally from St. Bride’s, on the River Severn in South Wales.

In addition to these, two other related surnames are potentially derivations of the name Sturgen; Sturgell and Sturgill. Sturgell is an uncommon Welsh surname, and Sturgill is thought to be the Americanized version of Sturgis, and is most commonly found in the United States.

In summary, there are several variations of the surname Sturgen, all associated with certain regions and countries, and all deriving from a common origin.

Famous people with the name Sturgen

• Billy Sturgen: Actor, best known for portraying the character of Officer Minetta in Martin Scorsese’s film, The Departed
• Franz Sturgen: Famed Austrian composer and musician
• Klaus Sturgen: German racing driver, competed in Formula One during the 1960s
• Emanuel Sturgen: Award-winning composer, writer, and producer
• Hugo Sturgen: German actor, starred in numerous films and television series
• Werner Sturgen: Novelist, short story writer, and journalist
• Viola Sturgen: Novelist and screenwriter, known for her works on the occult
• Berthold Sturgen: Acclaimed Austrian painter, painter to the Austrian Imperial Court
• Fred Sturgen: Noted Swiss sculptor, created some of the most famous sculptures in Switzerland
• Donny Sturgen: Rock and roll musician, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004

Other surnames

SturgeonSturgin