Stourton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Early Origins of the Stourton family
The surname Stourton was first found in Wiltshire at Stourton, a parish, in the union of Mere, partly in the hundred of Norton-Ferris. "A castle was anciently built here by John de Stourton, on the site of which a spacious and elegant mansion has been erected. The church is partly Grecian, and partly in the early English style, and contains monuments to the families of Stourton and Hoare." 1
The parish dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 when it was recorded as Stortone. 2 Literally the place name means "farmstead or village on one of the rivers called Stour." 3 Stourton can also be found in Staffordshire (Sturton in 1227) and Warwickshire (Sturton 1206.) 3
Leland wrote in his Itinerary "The name of Stourtons be very aunciente yn those parties. The Ryver of Stoure risith ther of six fountains or springes, whereof three be on the northe side of the Parke harde withyn the pale: the other three be north also, but without the parke; the Lord Stourton gyveth these six Fountaynes yn his arms." 4 This quotation explains the significance of the six fountains depicted on the family arms. Baron Stourton was created in 1447 at Stourton, Wiltshire. 5
In Scotland, the name is "of recent introduction from across the Border. " 6
Early History of the Stourton family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Stourton research. Another 39 words (3 lines of text) covering the years 1373, 1400, 1401, 1402, 1404, 1407, 1410, 1413, 1426, 1430, 1433, 1437, 1445, 1447, 1454, 1457, 1462, 1463, 1479, 1485, 1487, 1505, 1520, 1523, 1535, 1548, 1553, 1555, 1557, 1588, 1594, 1633, 1640, 1665, 1667, 1672, 1685, 1720 and 1744 are included under the topic Early Stourton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Stourton Spelling Variations
Spelling variations of this family name include: Stourton, Storeton, Storton and others.
Early Notables of the Stourton family
Notables of this surname at this time include:
- Sir William de Stourton (1373-1413), Speaker of the House of Commons of England (1413), knight of the shire in Parliament for Somerset in 1401, 1402, and 1404, also Wiltshire in 1407, Dorset in 1410 a...
- John Stourton (1400-1462), 1st Baron Stourton, Treasurer of the Household (1445), High Sheriff of Wiltshire in 1426, 1433 and 1437
- William Stourton (c. 1430-1479), 2nd Baron Stourton
- John Stourton (c. 1454-1485), 3rd Baron Stourton
- Edward Stourton, 6th Baron Stourton (c. 1463-1535)
- William Stourton, 7th Baron Stourton (c. 1505-1548)
- Charles Stourton, 8th Baron Stourton (c. 1520-1557)
- John Stourton, 9th Baron Stourton (1553-1588)
- Edward Stourton, 10th Baron Stourton (c. 1555-1633)
- William Stourton, 11th Baron Stourton (c. 1594-1672)
- William Stourton, 12th Baron Stourton (d. 1685)
- Edward Stourton, 13th Baron Stourton (1665-1720)
Stourton migration to Canada +
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
Stourton Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century
- Erasmus Stourton (1603-1658), English clergyman from Narborough, Leicestershire and early settler to the Colony of Avalon, Newfoundland in 1627, one of the earliest Anglican clergyman to come to Newfoundland
Contemporary Notables of the name Stourton (post 1700) +
- Thomas Edward Alexander "Tom" Stourton (b. 1987), English comedian, actor and voice actor
- Charles Edward Stourton (1923-2006), 23rd Baron Stourton, English peer
- William Marmaduke Stourton (1895-1965), 22nd Baron Stourton, English peer
- Charles Botolph Joseph Stourton (1867-1936), 21st Baron Stourton, English peer
- Alfred Joseph Stourton (1829-1893), 20th Baron Stourton, English peer
- Charles Stourton (1802-1872), 19th Baron Stourton, English peer
- William Stourton (1776-1846), 18th Baron Stourton, English peer known for his private memoirs of his relative Maria Fitzherbert, the secret wife of King George IV
- Charles Philip Stourton (1752-1816), 17th Baron Stourton, English peer
- William Stourton (1704-1781), 16th Baron Stourton, English peer
- Charles Stourton (1702-1753), 15th Baron Stourton, English peer
- ... (Another 6 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
The Stourton Motto +
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: Loyal je serai durant ma vie
Motto Translation: I will be loyal as long as I live.
Citations +
- Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
- Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
- Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
- Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
- Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
- 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)