Stratman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Stratman was brought to England in the wave of migration that followed the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Stratman family lived in Wiltshire, at Stratton. However, there are also parishes in Cornwall, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Norfolk, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, and Somerset also named Stratton.

The reason for the many parishes so named is because of the etymology of the surname as in "one who came from Stratton (homestead on a Roman road.)" 1 However down in Cornwall, in Cornish the name literally means "the hill full of fresh springs." 2

Early Origins of the Stratman family

The surname Stratman was first found in Wiltshire where it is said that the notorious Adam de Stratton derives from Argouges from Manche in the arrondisement of Avranches in Normandy.

Adam de Stratton (died 1292) was a royal moneylender, administrator and clergyman under Edward I of England. He rose to become Chamberlain of the Exchequer and steward of Isabella, Countess of Devon. His father was Thomas de Argoges, or Arwillis, of Stratton St Margaret in Wiltshire. In 1278, he was accused of cutting off the seal of a charter from Quarr Abbey, thereby invalidating its authenticity. This was not the beginning nor the last time he would be associated with dubious activities. On 17 January 1290, he was relieved of his office of chamberlain, along with his temporal possessions. Upon his arrest, he was discovered to have in his possession a vast sum of money and objects associated with witchcraft. He was imprisoned in the Tower of London in 1292 and died by 14 August 1294.

Henry de Stratton (died after 1277) was an English clergyman and Crown official who later served as a judge in Ireland. He is chiefly remembered as the brother of the infamous Adam de Stratton.

Stratton is a parish in Cornwall in the deanery of Trigg-Major, and in the hundred to which this parish imparts its name. "This circumstance denotes its great antiquity, and discovers that in former ages it presented no contemptible figure on the rolls of fame." 3

Robert de Stretton (died 1385), an English divine, born at Stretton Magna, Leicestershire was Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield and son of Robert Eyryk or de Stretton. "He and his elder brother, Sir William Eyryk, knight (ancestor of the Heyricks of Leicestershire), derived their surnames from Stretton Magna. " 4

Early History of the Stratman family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Stratman research. Another 175 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1285, 1320 and 1364 are included under the topic Early Stratman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Stratman Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence in the eras before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate regularly changed the spellings of their names as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Stratman have been found, including Stratton, Straton, Straiton and others.

Early Notables of the Stratman family

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

Stratman migration to the United States +

For many English families, the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. For such families, the shores of Ireland, Australia, and the New World beckoned. They left their homeland at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. Many arrived after the long voyage sick, starving, and without a penny. But even those were greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. Numerous English settlers who arrived in the United States and Canada at this time went on to make important contributions to the developing cultures of those countries. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Stratman were among those contributors:

Stratman Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Ekisl Stratman, aged 16, who immigrated to the United States from London, in 1904
Arthur Stratman, aged 32, who landed in America, in 1907
Mary Stratman, aged 30, who landed in America, in 1907
Charles Stratman, aged 24, who immigrated to the United States, in 1909
Josephine Stratman, aged 41, who immigrated to America, in 1912
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Stratman (post 1700) +

Rachel Stratman (b. 1985), American producer
Johnathan Stratman, American producer
J. Stratman, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from California, 1868 5
Herman W. Stratman, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1912 5
Greg Stratman, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Missouri State House of Representatives 62nd District, 2012 5
Frank H. Stratman, American Libertarian politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Illinois 2nd District, 1996 5
Deborah Stratman, Grammy nominated, Humboldt International Film Festival Award winning director

The Stratman 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: Resurgere tento
Motto Translation: I strive to rise again.

Citations +

Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 18) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html