Show ContentsSture History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Sture family

The surname Sture was first found in Hampshire where William filius Stur was listed in the Pipe Rolls for 1162. The same rolls also listed William Stur. A few years later, Anger Sturre was listed in Berkshire in 1206 and later again, William atte Sture was found in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1332. In this case, it is believed that the name was derived from the River Stour in Essex. [1] West Stower in Dorset is located on the River Stour. [2]

While the aforementioned are early roll entries for the family, Dorset may indeed be the original homeland of the family. [3] [4] East Stower is a parish in the union of Shaftesbury, hundred of Redlane, Shaston in Dorset. [5] Stower-Provost is another parish and liberty, in the union of Shaftesbury, Shaston division of the county of Dorset and finally, West Stower is another parish, in the union of Shaftesbury, hundred of Redlane, Shaston division of the county of Dorset. [5]

Early History of the Sture family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sture research. Another 41 words (3 lines of text) covering the years 1162, 1206, 1440, 1470, 1497, 1501, 1503 and 1662 are included under the topic Early Sture History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sture Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Stower, Stowers, Stowars, Stowar, Stouer, Stur, Styre and many more.

Early Notables of the Sture family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • Sten Sture the Elder (1440-1503), a Swedish statesman and regent of Sweden from (1470-1497 and 1501-1503)

Migration of the Sture family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: the name represented in many forms and recorded from the mid 17th century in the great migration from Europe. Migrants settled in the eastern seaboard from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands..


Contemporary Notables of the name Sture (post 1700) +

  • Sture Birger Eskilsson (1930-2016), Swedish economist, Director of Information of the Swedish Employers' Association
  • Sture Ericson (1912-1979), Swedish film actor
  • Sture Henrik Stork (1930-2002), Swedish Olympic sailor


  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  3. Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
  4. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  5. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.


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