Contents [hide]

Stern History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Suggested Reading Sources

Stern History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany
Israel
Ireland

Etymology of Stern

What does the name Stern mean?

The name Stern is of Anglo-Saxon origin. It was name for a stern person. The surname Stern is derived from the Old English word styrne, which means severe, strict, uncompromising, and austere. 1 2

Early Origins of the Stern family

The surname Stern was first found in Cambridgeshire where Henry Sterne and Aubn Sterne was recorded in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. 3 Later, Haney Sterne was listed in Norfolk in 1460. 4

Early History of the Stern family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Stern research. Another 57 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1592, 1596, 1607, 1624, 1642, 1643, 1660, 1664, 1669, 1683, 1700, 1713, 1745, 1759 and 1768 are included under the topic Early Stern History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Stern Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Stern have been found, including Sterne, Stern, Stearn, Stearns and others.

Early Notables of the Stern family

John Sterne, Bishop of Colchester in 1592 who held the post until his death in 1607
Richard Sterne (c. 1596-1683), English Church of England priest, Bishop of Carlisle in 1660, Archbishop of York from 1664 to 1683. He was the alleged author of the 'Whole Duty of Man.' 5 "On the...

Stern Ranking

the United States, the name Stern is the 1,643^rd most popular surname with an estimated 19,896 people with that name. 6

Migration of the Stern family to Ireland

Some of the Stern family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 174 words (12 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Stern migration to the United States +

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Among the first immigrants of the name Stern, or a variant listed above to cross the Atlantic and come to North America were:

Stern Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Jacob Stern, who landed in New York in 1709 7
Philip Stern, who landed in New York in 1709 7
Jean Stern, who settled in Louisiana with two sons and a daughter in 1720
Jacob Stern, who arrived in Maryland in 1743 7
Frederick Stern, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1753
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Stern Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Benedix P Stern, who landed in North America in 1832-1849 7
Hirach Stern, who landed in North America in 1832-1849 7
Mr. Carl Gustav Stern, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1846 aboard the ship "Franziska"
Mrs. Helene Stern, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1846 aboard the ship "Franziska"
Mr. Carl Stern, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1846 aboard the ship "Franziska"
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Stern migration to Canada +

Stern Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. David Stern U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 8

Stern migration to Australia +

Stern Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Thomas Stern, English convict from Hertfordshire, who was transported aboard the "Ann" on August 1809, settling in New South Wales, Australia 9
H.E.F. Stern, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Steinwaerder" 10
Mr. Thomas Stern, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Equestrian" on 27th August 1852, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Island) 11

Contemporary Notables of the name Stern (post 1700) +

Isaac Stern (1920-2001), Ukrainian-born American violinist and concert master and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Sol Stern (1935-2025), American journalist and author of the book Breaking Free: Public School Lessons and the Imperative of School Choice (2003) and wrote extensively on education reform
Arthur Hamilton Stern (1926-2025), known as Arthur Hamilton, an American songwriter, best known for the song "Cry Me a River", first published in 1953 and recorded by Julie London
Charles Baker "Chuck" Stern (1979-2023), American composer, musician, writer, and visual artist known for his work in experimental music
Guy Stern (1922-2023), German-American decorated member of the secret Ritchie Boys World War II military intelligence interrogation team
Irving M. Stern (1928-2023), American politician, Member of the Minnesota Senate from 1979 to 1982, Mayor of St. Louis Park, Minnesota from 1977 to 1979
Gerald Daniel Stern (1925-2022), American poet, essayist, educator and author of twenty collections of poetry and four books of essays; he received the National Book Award for Poetry in 1998 and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Poetry in 1991
Fritz Richard Stern (1926-2016), German-born American historian of German history, Jewish history and historiography
Bertram "Bert" Stern (1929-2013), American fashion and celebrity portrait photographer, best known for his work The Last Sitting, a collection of 2,500 photographs taken of Marilyn Monroe
... (Another 12 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sources +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Ann voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1809 with 200 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/ann/1809
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) STEINWARDER 1849 aka STEINWAERDER. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Steinwarder.htm
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th May 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/equestrian