Surname Stokes - Meaning and Origin

Unveiling My Celtic and Nordic Roots: An iGENEA DNA Test Tale of the Stokes' Ancestry

As a result of my iGENEA DNA test, I've unearthed fascinating historical details about my Stokes ancestry. The test revealed strong ties to Celtic tribes inhabiting the British Isles, along with paternal Nordic linkages - a possible Viking overlap. My maternal line belongs to a haplogroup symbolic of Western Europeans, particularly present in Ireland and Scotland, verifying a Celtic lineage. These discoveries offer a captivating look into the people who shaped my genetic lineage and the influences they've had on shaping who I am today.

A. Stokes

Stokes: What does the surname Stokes mean?

The surname Stokes is of English origin and it was derived from a geographical location. It typically refers to someone who resided near or was associated with places bearing the name Stokes which can mean "dweller at the stump of a tree" or "dweller in a clearing in the woods". It's a habitation name denoting the various places named Stoke or Stow, which means "a place" in Old English. There are numerous localities such as Stoke-on-Trent, Stoke Poges, and Stoke Newington named so in the United Kingdom, suggesting the widespread distribution of this surname. Thus, the surname could also relate to those who came from there or owned properties in these places. Common variations of this surname are Stoakes, Stoate, Stow, and Stowke.

Stokes: Where does the name Stokes come from?

The last name Stokes is most common in the United Kingdom. According to the Office for National Statistics, there were almost 28,000 Stokes in England and Wales in 2011. The county with the most Stokes was Cheshire, followed by Lancashire and the City of London.

In the United States, Stokes is most common in the South and Midwest. In particular, it is prevalent in Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Kentucky, and Virginia. It can also be found in moderate numbers in Maryland, Ohio, Indiana, and North Carolina.

It seems the Stokes name is derived partly from the Old English word "stock," meaning wood or tree trunk, and partly from "Stoke," the name of several market towns in England. The Stokes were often associated with the timber-making industry, from which the surname was derived.

In the 21st century, people named Stokes can be found living in many parts of the world today, including Australia, New Zealand, the Balkans, and the Tibet-Burma region. Many Stokes have emigrated to the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, and Europe to pursue opportunities. There are many Stokes in the U.S. today, particularly in areas where there was once a strong Southern culture.

Variations of the surname Stokes

The surname Stokes is an English habitational name derived from several place names. Variants of the name include Stoakes, Stowks, Stokes, Stowkes, Stoil, Stoilke, Stolke, Stolks, and Stouls.

In 1881, there were nearly 12,500 bearers of the Stokes name in the United Kingdom. In 1865, the most popular variant of the name was Stokes with 9,401 bearers, followed by Stoakes with 2,142. It was especially popular in the counties of Cheshire, Nottinghamshire, and Derbyshire.

Geographical variations in the spelling of the name can be found in Ireland, where Stokes may also be spelled Stokes, Stowks, or Stokas. It is especially popular in Northumberland, Lancashire, and County Dublin.

The Dutch variant of the name is Staal, and the German variant is Staack. In parts of Eastern Europe, spellings can include Stock, Stokl, and Stoklas.

Early records of the surname can be found in Norfolk where the family is believed to be descended from Norse settlers. The family name first appears in the chronicle of Bataille de Péronne in 1545, which lists Arlette Stokes as being in the French court of Henry VIII.

It is also believed to have originated as a patronymic surname derived from the given name Stoke. The most popular given name in Britain in the fourteenth century was Stokes, derived from the Old English stoc, meaning “place”, so it is not hard to see why the name was adopted by so many people.

Famous people with the name Stokes

• Andrew Stokes: English professional footballer
• Drew Stokes: American actor, comedian, and writer
• Sir Leslie Stokes: Former Chairman and Managing Director of the Leyland Motor Corporation
• Erica Stokes: Reality television personality
• Faye Stokes: Award Winning Recording Artist
• Gene Stokes: American Ambassador to Solomon Islands
• Isaac Stokes: Private Eye
• Jesse Stokes: Six Nations champion lacrosse player
• Pat Stokes: Late American Major League Baseball executive
• Peter Stokes: Winner of the University of Arkansas’ International Genesys competition
• Renee Stokes: American jazz singer
• Stephen Stokes: U.S. Navy SEAL officer
• Robert Stokes: Author of "The Writing of History in the Middle Ages"
• Ward Stokes: British Film, Television & Radio Actor
• Wilbur Stokes: Late American chess master and teacher

Other surnames

StokeStökeStökelStokenburyStokerStökerStokesbaryStokesberryStokesbury