Meaning and origin
The last name Sterling originates from the Middle English word "sterling," which referred to a type of high-quality silver of British origin. The name later developed into a surname and was likely adopted by individuals associated with the silver trade or those who possessed sterling qualities. Over time, the surname Sterling spread beyond Britain, eventually becoming a relatively common name across the English-speaking world.
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.
#1,362
Sterling was the 1,362nd most common surname in the 2010 US Census, with 25,894 people, about 8.4 in every 100,000.
Who carries it
Surnames like Sterling
Names it is linked with, then names with the same origin and a similar standing.
Check the sources
- Forebears: where Sterling 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.