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: Stein, Star, Starr, Sterk, Stirn, Stark, Stier, Steen, Sporn, Steff

182K	Birth, Marriage, and Deaths
33K	Military Records
67K	Immigration Records
129K	Census and Voter Lists
130K	Member Trees

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

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.

View Census Data for Stern

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.

Private means

13%

Company director

Incapacitated

ladies garment machiner

Unpaid domestic duties

57%

Private means

Domestic servant

Unpaid domestic

What Stern family records will you find?

Census Record

There are 129K 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 List

There are 67K 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

Military Records

There are 33K 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

Discover More

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.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Stern family tree

Explore Your Tree

Search for another surname

Stern Surname Meaning

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

Where is the Stern family from?

What did your Stern ancestors do for a living?

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.

Private means

13%

Company director

Incapacitated

ladies garment machiner

Unpaid domestic duties

57%

Private means

Domestic servant

Unpaid domestic

What Stern family records will you find?

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.

Stern Family History

Stern Surname Meaning

542,000 record(s) for Stern

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Where is the Stern family from?

What did your Stern ancestors do for a living?

Top Male Occupations In 1939

Top Female Occupations In 1939

What Stern family records will you find?

Census Record

Passenger List

Military Records

You've only scratched the surface of Stern family history

What is the average Stern lifespan?

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Stern family tree

Search for another surname

Stern Surname Meaning

542,000 record(s) for Stern

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Where is the Stern family from?

What did your Stern ancestors do for a living?

Top Male Occupations In 1939

Top Female Occupations In 1939

What Stern family records will you find?

Census Record

Passenger List

Military Records

You've only scratched the surface of Stern family history

What is the average Stern lifespan?

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Stern family tree

Search for another surname