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Stearns History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Stearns History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany
Israel

The Stearns surname is derived from the Middle High German word "stern," meaning "star."

Early Origins of the Stearns family

The surname Stearns was first found in the regions of Hannover and Mecklenburg, where the name Stern was anciently associated with the conflicts between rival tribes. They declared allegiances to many nobles and princes of this early period in history, using their influence in struggles for power and status within the region. They branched into many houses, and their support was sought by many leaders in their search for power.

Early History of the Stearns family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Stearns research. Another 126 words (9 lines of text) covering the year 1645 is included under the topic Early Stearns History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Stearns Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Stern, Stearn, Sturn, Sterne, Sturne, Stirn, Styrne, Stearne, Stirne and many more.

Early Notables of the Stearns family

More information is included under the topic Early Stearns Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Stearns Ranking

In the United States, the name Stearns is the 2,119^th most popular surname with an estimated 14,922 people with that name. 1

Stearns migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Stearns Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Mrs. Mary Barker Stearns who arrived in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 as part of the Winthrop fleet. 2
Mr. Isaac Stearns who arrived in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 as part of the Winthrop fleet, found in Watertown. 2
Mr. John Stearns who arrived in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 as part of the Winthrop fleet, found in Watertown. 2
Miss Elizabeth Stearns who arrived in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 as part of the Winthrop fleet, found in Watertown. 2
Miss Hannah Stearns who arrived in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 as part of the Winthrop fleet, found in Watertown. 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Stearns Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

G H Stearns, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1850 3
M S Stearns, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1850 3
Mr. Stearns, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 3

Stearns migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Stearns Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

James Stearns, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1778

Stearns 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:

Stearns Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Frank Stearns, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Hermione" in 1883

Contemporary Notables of the name Stearns (post 1700) +

John Hardin Stearns (1951-2022), nicknamed "Bad Dude", an American Major League Baseball catcher and coach from Denver, Colorado who played for the New York Mets from 1975 to 1984
Monteagle "Monty" Stearns (1924-2016), American diplomat, United States Ambassador to Ivory Coast (1976-1979), United States Ambassador to Greece (1981-1985)
Robert Stearns, American co-founder of Bear Stearns, a global investment bank and securities trading and brokerage in 1923
Michael Stearns (b. 1948), American musician and composer of ambient music
Richard Edwin Stearns (b. 1936), American computer scientist, co-recipient of the 1993 ACM Turing Award
Frank Ballou Stearns (1879-1955), American founder of F. B. Stearns and Company, a manufacturer of luxury cars in Cleveland
Edward Carl Stearns (1856-1929), American founder of E. C. Stearns & Company, Stearns Automobile Company, Stearns Steam Carriage Company, Stearns Typewriter Company and E. C. Stearns Bicycle Agency
Foster Waterman Stearns (1881-1956), American politician, U.S. Representative from New Hampshire
George Luther Stearns (1809-1867), American industrialist and merchant
Cliff Stearns (b. 1941), American politician
... (Another 4 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's. Retrieved January 6th 2023 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
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)