Surname Stokesberry - Meaning and Origin
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Stokesberry: What does the surname Stokesberry mean?
The surname Stokesberry is likely of English origin, presumably connected to a geographical location. Many English surnames emerged from geographical features, towns, or occupations in the Middle Ages. "Stokes" might be derived from "stoke" meaning "place" or possibly related to "stock," denoting a fortified place. However, the exact origin and meaning of "Stokesberry" is unclear as it is not a common surname and does not appear in many traditional genealogical or etymological resources. It's possible it could refer to a place where a specific type of berry grew or a person who dealt in such berries (comparable to the way "Smith" indicated a metal worker). Genealogical research, such as tracing the name and its historical occurrences, or DNA testing, can potentially provide a more complete picture of the surname Stokesberry lineage and meaning. The most accurate interpretation would come from a professional genealogist or a detailed, historical family record.
Order DNA origin analysisStokesberry: Where does the name Stokesberry come from?
The last name Stokesberry is most common in the United States today. About 3,777 people have the Stokesberry surname, according to public records.
Of those with the name, the largest concentration of people with the last name lives in the state of Kentucky, with 1,839 Stokesberry’s living here. Other states with a significant presence of Stokesberry’s include Ohio (498), West Virginia (397), Virginia (249), Indiana (201) and Pennsylvania (108).
It appears the surname has its origin from the settlers of colonial America, with the earliest known example of the Stokesberry name first recorded in the U.S. in the late 1700’s, originating from the German spelling of Stegenbarth. It is believed that Stokesberry is a derivative of Stegenbarth, a variation on the name of Steganstadt, a German town that translates to “stone city”.
So, while there is a relatively small number of Stokesberry’s in the U.S. today, those with the name who live in certain regions, such as Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia, may have a slightly higher chance of encountering other people with the same last name.
Variations of the surname Stokesberry
The surname Stokesberry is derived from the Old English word 'stoc', meaning 'dwelling place'. It is normally spelled as Stokesberry, Stokesbery, Stocksberry, or Stocksbery. Variations in spelling of other related surnames are also common, such as Stockesbury, Stockesbery, Stockelsberry, Stockelsbery and Stokesbary.
The related Irish surname Stokesbury is believed to originate from the Irish word 'scearc', meaning 'shack'. It is an anglicisation of the Gaelic name Mac Stocaire. Among the other related surname spellings are Stock, Stocks, Stoke, Stockes, Stokes, Stoakes, and Stookes.
The surname Stokesberry can be found throughout England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. In Ireland, it is most commonly found in counties Cork, Donegal, Kilkenny, Mayo, Sligo and Mayo.
In the United States, the surname Stokesberry can be found in the states of Alabama, California, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington, and Wisconsin.
The records show the earliest known record of the surname Stokesberry was in England in 1379 in Gloucestershire, when John de Stokesberry was mentioned in the Feet of Fines. Records of the name can be found in Ireland, most commonly counties Cork, Donegal, Kilkenny, Mayo, Sligo and Mayo.
In Scotland, the earliest record of the Stokesberry surname was in 1443, in of Gempston, Moray. Other spellings have also been found in Scotland, from the 16th century onwards, including Stocksbery, Stoklesberry and Stokesbary.
Altogether, the spelling variants of the surname Stokesberry are quite numerous, with some families bearing more than one variation.
Famous people with the name Stokesberry
- Marcus Stokesberry: A Californian actor and musician.
- Parker Stokesberry: A professional ski racer from the USA, competing in alpine skiing on the World Cup circuit.
- Larry Stokesberry: A former Major League Baseball player who played two seasons for the Boston Red Sox.
- Frances Stokesberry: A New York-based, award-winning sculptor and installation artist.
- John Stokesberry: A Canadian non-fiction author, focusing on history and current affairs.
- Barry Stokesberry: A professional musician and bass guitar player.
- Kenneth Stokesberry: A US Navy veteran and former welder.
- Wilfred Stokesberry: An American author known for his books on American history.
- Samantha Stokesberry: A comedy writer and podcast host.
- Rebecca Stokesberry: An award-winning hairstylist and makeup artist based in California.