| ![Show Contents]() Sterk History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England The name Sterk comes from a name for a person who is firm, or resolute. Sterk is a nickname surname, which belongs to the category of hereditary surnames. Nicknames form a broad and miscellaneous class of surnames, and can refer directly or indirectly to one's personality, physical attributes, mannerisms, or even their habits of dress. The surname Sterk comes from the Old English word stark, which means firm, and was given to someone who was powerful or resolute. This family was established in Suffolk since the early Middle Ages. Early Origins of the Sterk familyThe surname Sterk was first found in Suffolk, where the Sterk family held a family seat from ancient times. Early History of the Sterk familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sterk research. Another 159 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1222, 1273, 1314, 1376, 1540, 1544, 1677, 1728, 1745, 1757, 1794 and 1822 are included under the topic Early Sterk History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Sterk Spelling VariationsUntil quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Sterk include Stark, Starck, Starke, Starckman, Sterke, Sterk, Starkey, Starkie and many more. Early Notables of the Sterk familyMore information is included under the topic Early Sterk Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Sterk RankingIn Netherlands, the name Sterk is the 589th most popular surname with an estimated 3,044 people with that name. 1
 Sterk migration to the United States | + |
Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Sterk or a variant listed above:
Sterk Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Johann Sterk, aged 16, who arrived in New York in 1854 2
- Este Sterk, aged 16, who landed in America, in 1895
- Anna Sterk, aged 28, who landed in America, in 1896
- Georg Sterk, aged 36, who landed in America, in 1897
Sterk Settlers in United States in the 20th Century- Charles Sterk, aged 26, who immigrated to America, in 1918
- Fred Sterk, aged 38, who immigrated to the United States, in 1921
| Contemporary Notables of the name Sterk (post 1700) | + |
- Maria Sterk (b. 1979), Dutch marathon speed skater
- Willemina Roziena Catharina "Mirjam" Sterk (b. 1973), Dutch politician
- Jane Sterk, Canadian politician, leader of the Green Party of British Columbia
- Károly Sterk (1881-1946), Hungarian chess master
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Fortiorum fortia facta
Motto Translation: The brave deeds of brave men.
- "Most Common Last Names in Netherlands." Forebears, https://forebears.io/netherlands/surnames
- 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)
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Sterk migration to the United States 
