Map of England showing where the Sturkie arms are recorded
The Sturkie arms were recorded in Lancaster, c. 1620.
Lancashire was divided among a great many small landed families, more than most northern counties. Estates were passed down whole rather than split up, so the same names hold the same ground for centuries in the records.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Sturkie arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Lancaster.
Origin & History of the Sturkie Family in England
The Sturkie family name traces its roots to the historic county of Lancashire in North West England. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the family were already established residents in this region. The name likely developed as a descriptive surname, which was a common practice in medieval England to distinguish individuals based on their personal traits or their specific place of origin. During the seventeenth century, families in Lancashire were often deeply connected to the local agricultural economy and the growing textile trade. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the English countryside, living through a period of significant political and religious change. The presence of the Sturkie name in early seventeenth-century parish records suggests that the family was well-integrated into the local community life of the era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Sturc
Old English term for a young bull or steer.
This name
SturkieA locational or occupational surname referring to someone who tended young cattle.
also spelled
Starkey
Starky
Starke
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Lancashire Archives, Bishop's Transcripts of Parish Registers, 1620
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
heronPatience and quiet watchfulness
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
heronPatience and quiet watchfulness
