Show ContentsStringer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Stringer comes from the ancient Norman culture that was established in Britain after the Conquest of 1066. It was a name for a strong or courageous person. Checking further we found the name was derived from the German word streng, of the same meaning. It evolved to be an occupational name for "one who made strings for bows." [1] [2]

"In war if a string break, the man is lost and is no man, and his weapon is gone, and although he have two strings put on at once, yet he shah have small leisure and less room to bend his bow, therefore, God send us good stringers both for war and peace." [3]

Early Origins of the Stringer family

The surname Stringer was first found in Nottinghamshire where they held a family seat from early times, where they were Lords of the manor of Eaton, and were conjecturally descended from Fulk, who held the lands of Eaton from Roger de Bully at the time of the taking of the Domesday Book in 1086. [4] The lands, at that time, consisted of two mills and a garden. Eaton is the celebrated site of the Battle of the Idle in 617 between Redwald and Ethelfrith of Northumbria.

The name grew to become a "common Yorkshire name" [5] which we will explore shortly. First we will search through early rolls: Walter Stringere was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls for Wiltshire in 1194; and Roger le Strenger in Yorkshire rolls in 1293. [5]

Early Somerset records show Godwynn Strenger, Somerset, 1 Edward III (during the first year of King Edward III's reign.) [6] The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 include: Willelmus Strynger; Johannes Strenger; and Ricardus Stryngar as all holding lands there at that time. [7] In Scotland, it was a rather rare name but we did find "Laurence Stringhar [who was] admitted burgess of Aberdeen, 1486." [8]

Early History of the Stringer family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Stringer research. Another 94 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1574, 1575 and 1646 are included under the topic Early Stringer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Stringer Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. When the Normans became the ruling people of England in the 11th century, they introduced a new language into a society where the main languages of Old and later Middle English had no definite spelling rules. These languages were more often spoken than written, so they blended freely with one another. Contributing to this mixing of tongues was the fact that medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, ensuring that a person's name would appear differently in nearly every document in which it was recorded. The name has been spelled Stringer, Stringar, Stringers and others.

Early Notables of the Stringer family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

  • Stringer of Nottinghamshire

Stringer World Ranking

In the United States, the name Stringer is the 1,612nd most popular surname with an estimated 19,896 people with that name. [9] However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Stringer is ranked the 641st most popular surname with an estimated 69 people with that name. [10] And in Australia, the name Stringer is the 923rd popular surname with an estimated 4,269 people with that name. [11] New Zealand ranks Stringer as 671st with 1,055 people. [12] The United Kingdom ranks Stringer as 770th with 8,733 people. [13]


United States Stringer migration to the United States +

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that plagued their homeland made the frontiers of the New World an attractive prospect. Thousands migrated, aboard cramped disease-ridden ships. They arrived sick, poor, and hungry, but were welcomed in many cases with far greater opportunity than at home in England. Many of these hardy settlers went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Among early immigrants bearing the name Stringer or a variant listed above were:

Stringer Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Samuel Stringer, who settled in Virginia in 1622
  • Samvell Stringer, aged 17, who landed in Virginia in 1635 [14]
  • James Stringer, who arrived in Virginia in 1647 [14]
  • John Stringer, who settled in Virginia in 1651
  • Lettice Stringer, who landed in Virginia in 1653 [14]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Stringer Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Tho Stringer, who landed in Virginia in 1704 [14]
  • Samuel Stringer, who arrived in Virginia in 1714 [14]
  • John Stringer, who settled in Maryland in 1726
  • Ralph Stringer, who settled in Maryland in 1736
  • Elizabeth Stringer, who settled in Annapolis Maryland in 1736
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Stringer Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Thomas Stringer, who arrived in Mobile County, Ala in 1838 [14]
  • William Stringer, who arrived in New York in 1839 [14]
  • John A Stringer, who arrived in New York in 1839 [14]
  • T Stringer, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1850 [14]
  • Abel, Dedbor, Gamewell, George, James, and Matthew Stringer all, who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania between 1858 and 1872
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Stringer migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Stringer Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Joseph Stringer, who settled in Grate's Cove, Newfoundland in 1835 [15]
  • John Stringer in St. John's, Newfoundland in 1838 [15]
  • Mr. C. Stringer, aged 5 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Lord Seaton" departing 12th April 1847 from Belfast, Ireland; the ship arrived on 10th June 1847 but he died on board [16]
  • Miss. Prudence Stringer, aged 1 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Lord Seaton" departing 12th April 1847 from Belfast, Ireland; the ship arrived on 10th June 1847 but she died on board [16]

Australia Stringer migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Stringer Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Samuel Stringer, Jr., English convict who was convicted in Oxford, Oxfordshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Dromedary" on 11th September 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) [17]
  • Mr. William Stringer who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Dick" on 2nd October 1820, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [18]
  • Mr. George Stringer, (b. 1810), aged 17, Irish errand boy who was convicted in County Tyrone, Ireland for 7 years for pick pocketing, transported aboard the “Countess of Harcourt“ on 14th February 1827, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [19]
  • Mr. George Stringer, (b. 1810), aged 17, Irish errand boy who was convicted in Tyrone, Ireland for 7 years for pick pocketing, transported aboard the "Countess of Harcourt" on 28th June 1827, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [20]
  • Mrs. Sarah Stringer, (b. 1770), aged 59, Irish servant who was convicted in County Tyrone, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Edward" on 1st January 1829, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, listed as having 2 children [21]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Stringer migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Stringer Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Thomas H. Stringer, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Gipsey" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 25th October 1854, en-route to Nelson [22]
  • Mrs. Stringer, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Gipsey" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 25th October 1854, en-route to Nelson [22]
  • J. Stringer, (b. 1860), aged , British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Gananoque" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 9th May 1860 [22]
  • Kezia Stringer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Persia" in 1860
  • Thomas Stringer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Annie Wilson" in 1863
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

West Indies Stringer migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. [23]
Stringer Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • Emanuell Stringer, who settled in Barbados in 1670

Contemporary Notables of the name Stringer (post 1700) +

  • W. M. Stringer, American Democratic Party politician, Chair of Randolph County Democratic Party, 1949 [24]
  • Thomas W. Stringer, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Mississippi, 1868, 1888 [24]
  • Thomas Stringer, American Republican politician, Candidate in primary for Michigan State House of Representatives 23rd District, 1978 [24]
  • Scott M. Stringer (b. 1960), American Democratic Party politician, Member of New York State Assembly 67th District, 1993-2005; Borough President of Manhattan, New York, 2006-13; Presidential Elector for New York, 2012 [24]
  • Matthew Stringer, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Texas, 2012 [24]
  • Leslie P. Stringer, American politician, Mayor of Dover, New Jersey, 1962-66 [24]
  • Lawrence Beaumont Stringer (1866-1942), American Democratic Party politician, Member of Illinois State House of Representatives, 1890-92; Member of Illinois State Senate, 1900-04; Candidate for Governor of Illinois, 1904 [24]
  • J. B. Stringer, American politician, Member of Texas State House of Representatives 19th District, 1887-88 [24]
  • Herald E. Stringer, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Alaska Territory, 1952; Member of Alaska territorial House of Representatives 3rd District, 1953-54 [24]
  • Godfrey Stringer, American politician, Prohibition Candidate for Presidential Elector for Pennsylvania, 1916 [24]
  • ... (Another 20 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Arrow Air Flight 1285
  • Mr. Richard Stringer (1963-1985), American Specialist 4th Class from Dexter, New York, USA who died in the Arrow Air Flight 1285 crash [25]
HMS Hood
  • Mr. Cecil A B Stringer (b. 1899), English Able Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from Birmingham, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking [26]
RMS Lusitania
  • Mr. Harry Stringer, English First Waiter from Litherland, Lancashire, England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking [27]


  1. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
  4. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  5. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  6. Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
  7. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  8. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  9. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  10. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  11. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  12. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  13. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  14. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  15. Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
  16. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 96)
  17. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dromedary
  18. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 8th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Dick
  19. Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 19th April 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/countess-of-harcourt
  20. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 19th April 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/countess-of-harcourt
  21. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 19th November 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/edward
  22. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  23. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  24. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 26) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  25. American War Memorials - Flight 1285. (Retrieved 2016, August 24) . Retrieved from http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/monument_details.php?SiteID=317&MemID=550
  26. H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
  27. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 7) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/


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