Meaning and origin
The last name Stark has its origin in both England and Germany. In England, it is derived from the Old English word "starc," meaning "strong" or "stiff," suggesting strength or determination. The German variant originates from the Middle High German word "starke," meaning "strong" or "powerful," also linked to characteristics of resilience and vigor. Overall, the surname Stark emphasizes a strong and resolute persona, reflecting the name's etymological roots in both England and Germany.
Surname origins are rarely settled: one spelling can have several sources, and families often took a name for reasons nobody wrote down. Check it against the sources below before you rely on it.
#827
Stark was the 827th most common surname in the 2010 US Census, with 41,735 people, about 14 in every 100,000.
Who carries it
Surnames like Stark
Names it is linked with, then names with the same origin and a similar standing.
Check the sources
- Forebears: where Stark is found around the world
- The Internet Surname Database: a second opinion on the origin
- US Census Bureau: the 2010 surname figures used here
For a name you are serious about, compare the dictionaries: Reaney and Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames; Hanks, Dictionary of American Family Names.