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Stirling Family History

Stirling Surname Meaning

Scottish (Lanarkshire): habitational name from Stirling (Stirlingshire) earlier Scots Strivilin (or similar) a name of uncertain etymology.

It is recorded in the 12th century as Strevelin and is perhaps from a river name.

This surname is also common in northern Ireland (Antrim and Derry).

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

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Where is the Stirling family from?

You can see how Stirling families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Stirling family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Stirling families were found in and Scotland in 1841. In 1891 there were 90 Stirling families living in London. This was about 19% of all the recorded Stirling's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Stirling families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Stirling surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Stirling ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Stirling. 11% of Stirling men worked as a General Labourer and 73% of Stirling women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Stirling were Carpenter and Unpaid Domestic.

View Census Data for Stirling | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    11%
  • Electrical Engineer
    9%
  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    7%
  • Carpenter
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    73%
  • Private Means
    5%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%

What Stirling family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 79,000 census records available for the last name Stirling. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Stirling census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Stirling

Passenger Lists

There are 16,000 immigration records available for the last name Stirling. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Stirling immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 9,000 military records available for the last name Stirling. For the veterans among your Stirling ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Stirling military records

You've only scratched the surface of Stirling family history

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What is the average Stirling lifespan?

Between 1946 and 2004, in the United States, Stirling life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1949, and highest in 1991. The average life expectancy for Stirling in 1946 was 43, and 78 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Stirling

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Stirling ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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