Stirton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

Early Origins of the Stirton family

The surname Stirton 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 Stirton family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Stirton 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 Stirton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Stirton Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Stourton, Storeton, Storton and others.

Early Notables of the Stirton 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 and again in 1413; 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...
Another 79 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Stirton Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Stirton migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Stirton Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

James Stirton, aged 49, who landed in America from England, in 1893

Stirton Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

James Stirton, aged 65, who settled in America from London, England, in 1908
James Bruce Stirton, aged 18, who landed in America from Glasgow, Scotland, in 1908
Alison Stirton, aged 13, who immigrated to the United States from Dundee, Scotland, in 1908
Robert Stirton, aged 26, who immigrated to America from Glasgow, Scotland, in 1908
William Chas. Stirton, aged 24, who landed in America from Bandon, Scotland, in 1909
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Stirton migration to Australia +

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

Stirton Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

William Charles Stirton, aged 26, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Marion" 7
James Stirton, aged 40, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1856 aboard the ship "Lord Raglan" 8

Contemporary Notables of the name Stirton (post 1700) +

Brent Stirton, American senior photographer for Getty Images, New York
Alexander McIntyre Stirton (1872-1939), American politician, Candidate for Governor of Michigan, 1908; Candidate for Michigan State Board of Education, 1909 9
Robert Stirton Thornton (1863-1936), Canadian politician in Manitoba, member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1907 to 1910, and 1914 to 1922
David Stirton (1816-1908), Canadian politician, member of the Canadian House of Commons representing Wellington South from 1867 to 1876

The Stirton 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)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The MARION 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Marion.htm
South Australian Register Friday February 7th, 1856. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Lord Raglan 1856. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/lordraglan1856.shtml
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 17) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html