Striker Family History

English (Middlesex): occupational name from an unrecorded Middle English striker, probably in most instances a derivative of Middle English striken ‘to stroke, rub, make (something) smooth, spread (something) evenly’. The exact sense of the surname cannot be determined without defining contexts, but it was probably synonymous with the etymologically related Straker and Stroker, and could therefore have denoted a waxer or polisher of goods made of leather, metal, wood, etc.

It might also refer to a sharpener of knives (honing blades with a whetstone) or a public official who would measure (or strike off) a standard quantity of corn for sale using a flat stick called a strike to make the corn level. In some cases, the name could alternatively be a derivative of Middle English striken ‘to strike or hammer (metal)’, allegedly used for a smith, perhaps, or a minter of coins.

However, striker is not a recorded term for either occupation. This surname is rare in Britain. It also has variants such as Stryker, which is a surname of Dutch origin.

Additionally, it serves as an Americanized form of the German surname Streicher. Understanding the nuances behind this name can reveal interesting aspects of occupational history and cultural exchange.