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Stern Family History

Stern Surname Meaning

German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): from Middle High German stern German Stern ‘star’ a topographic or habitational name referring to a house or inn distinguished by the sign of a star or a Jewish artificial name.

It is also found in France (Alsace and Lorraine), Sweden, and in some other European countries (compare 3 below).

English: nickname from Middle English stern(e), stirn(e), stiarne ‘severe, strict, cruel; strong, powerful’.

Slovenian and Croatian (Štern): of German origin (see 1 above).

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


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Stern family from?

You can see how Stern families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Stern family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Stern families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 94 Stern families living in London. This was about 33% of all the recorded Stern's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Stern families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Stern 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 Stern ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Private Means and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Stern. 13% of Stern men worked as a Private Means and 57% of Stern women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Stern were Ladies Garment Machiner and Unpaid Domestic.

View Census Data for Stern | 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

  • Private Means
    13%
  • Company Director
    7%
  • Incapacitated
    5%
  • Ladies Garment Machiner
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    57%
  • Private Means
    9%
  • Domestic Servant
    6%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    6%

What Stern family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 129,000 census records available for the last name Stern. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Stern census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Stern

Passenger Lists

There are 67,000 immigration records available for the last name Stern. 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 Stern immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 33,000 military records available for the last name Stern. For the veterans among your Stern ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Stern military records

You've only scratched the surface of Stern family history

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What is the average Stern lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Stern life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1942, and highest in 1994. The average life expectancy for Stern in 1942 was 17, and 79 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Stern

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Stern 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.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Stern family tree

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