Explore the Family Name Sterk
The meaning of Sterk
1. German and Dutch: nickname from Middle Low German sterk and Middle High German stark, Middle Dutch sterke, star(c)ke, staerke ‘strong, brave’. 2. Slovenian (Šterk): nickname from a derivative of štrkati ‘to shoot (i.e. to move suddenly and very fast), to shun (from gadflies)’, or perhaps from related, today Croatian only štrk ‘gadfly’. 3. Jewish (Ashkenazic): artificial name or nickname from German Stärke ‘strength’ (compare 1 above).
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Sterk in the United States?
The Sterk surname was ranked 23,796 in popularity based on the Decennial U.S. Census of 2000 and saw a slight dip to 25,403 in 2010, reflecting a change of -6.75%. The count of individuals with the Sterk surname also experienced a minor decrease from 992 in 2000 to 974 in 2010, marking a -1.81% shift. This resulted in a decline in the proportion per 100,000 people from 0.37 to 0.33, a -10.81% change over the decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #23,796 | #25,403 | -6.75% |
| Count | 992 | 974 | -1.81% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.37 | 0.33 | -10.81% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Sterk
In terms of ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data shows that most individuals with the Sterk surname identified as White -- 97.98% in 2000, decreasing slightly to 97.13% in 2010. There were no individuals who identified as Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year. However, there was an increase in those identifying as Hispanic, rising from 0.81% in 2000 to 1.44% in 2010, a substantial 77.78% increase. Additionally, those identifying as two or more races increased from 0.50% in 2000 to 0.72% in 2010, showing a 44.00% growth over the decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 97.98% | 97.13% | -0.87% |
| Hispanic | 0.81% | 1.44% | 77.78% |
| Two or More Races | 0.5% | 0.72% | 44% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |