Sturdevant History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The evidence is not conclusive, "but the name (found also as Startivant) is apparently a nickname—‘Start Away’ !—for a messenger or pursuivant [from Middle English sterten, to start, and Anglo-French ava(u)nt, forward, away, Old French avant, Latin ab ante]" 1

Bardsley agrees with this origin of the name and negates the idea that "this sobriquet would seem to be a compound of sturdy, rash, inconsiderate; and avaunt, a boast, a vaunt, and also an old French sobriquet for some reckless boaster. " (Bardlsey)

Early Origins of the Sturdevant family

The surname Sturdevant was first found in Yorkshire, where the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 include a few early spellings: Willeimus Styrtauant; Willeimus Stirciuant; and Robertas Stircyuant. All held lands there at that time. 2

Later John Stirtava(u)nt was listed in the Yorkshire in 1404; Richard and Thomas Stirtava(u)nt were listed as Freemen of York in 1413 and 1447. Alan Stertevaunt was listed in Yorkshire in 1445. 3

Early History of the Sturdevant family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sturdevant research. Another 100 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1379, 1570, 1604, 1685, 1780, 1782, 1812, 1830 and 1868 are included under the topic Early Sturdevant History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sturdevant Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Sturtevant, Sturdivantt, Sturtivantt, Sturtivant, Sturdevant, Sturdivant, Sturtifant, Sturdifant, Sturdyvant, Sturdyfant, Sturtevant, Sturdavent and many more.

Early Notables of the Sturdevant family

Distinguished members of the family include Willelmus Styrtauant, a prominent landholder during the 14th century. The Sturdivant Gang was a multi-generational, American family of counterfeiters, whose criminal activities took place over a fifty-year period, from the 1780s, in...
Another 38 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Sturdevant Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sturdevant Ranking

In the United States, the name Sturdevant is the 11,942^nd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 4

Sturdevant migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Sturdevant Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Roger Sturdevant, aged 21, who arrived in Virginia in 1634 aboard the ship "Bonaventure" coming via St. Domingo 5

Sturdevant Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Mr. Allen G. Sturdevant, who arrived at Ellis Island, New York aboard the ship "Nonpareil" in 1835 6
J. S. Sturdevant, aged 48, who arrived at Ellis Island, New York aboard the ship "Cortes" in 1878 6

Sturdevant Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

John T. Sturdevant, aged 21, who arrived at Ellis Island, New York aboard the ship "Aurania" in 1904 6
Austra D. Sturdevant, who arrived at Ellis Island, New York aboard the ship "Republic" in 1905 6
Lucy H. Sturdevant, who arrived at Ellis Island, New York aboard the ship "Republic" in 1905 6
William C. Sturdevant, aged 40, who arrived at Ellis Island, New York aboard the ship "Lucania" in 1905 6
Robert Sturdevant, aged 40, who arrived at Ellis Island, New York aboard the ship "Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse" in 1905 6

Contemporary Notables of the name Sturdevant (post 1700) +

Tyler James Sturdevant (b. 1985), American Major League Baseball pitcher
Lafayette Monroe Sturdevant (1856-1925), American lawyer and politician, Attorney General of Wisconsin (1903-1907)
Gregg A. Sturdevant, retired United States Marine Corps major general

Citations +

Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. 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)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
"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)
Ellis Island Search retrieved 9th February 2023. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result