STRICKLAND
Strickland is a surname of English origin that appears in the historical records of the British Isles, particularly within the country of England. The name is typically observed among individuals of Christian faith, reflecting its early usage within English communities.
The etymology of Strickland is derived from the Old English words stric, meaning "a stroke or a blow," and land, meaning "land or territory." It is generally accepted that the surname functioned as a locational identifier for a person who lived near a notable boundary or landmark, or that it described someone known for strength or martial prowess. The name acquired various spellings over the centuries, including variations such as Stryckland and Stirland.
Historical evidence places the earliest recorded spelling of the family name as Vchtred de Striclands, dated 1193 in the Poll Tax Records of Westmoreland, commissioned during the reign of King Richard I and the year 1189-1199. The surname is sometimes associated with a place known in Cumberland, and an earlier linguistic root is posited to be the pre-7th century term styr(i)c or steorc, meaning "bullock," combined with land to give "land for young bullocks or heifers." This analysis places the name’s origins in a pastoral context common to rural England.
Documentary mentions of the Strickland name can be found in a variety of medieval records. William de Strickland appears in the Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem of Westmoreland in 1278. A subsequent witness named Walter Stryleland is recorded in the Assize Rolls of London in 1442. Other historical annotations include the christening of Charles Strickland, son of Robert and Jane Strickland, at St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Westminster, on 19 June 1695, and the marriage of Alice Strickland to Thomas Ducke on 11 November 1571 at St. Vedast Foster Lane and St. Michael le Querne, London.
In the early modern period, Thomas John Francis Strickland, who lived from 1679 to 1740, distinguished himself as the Bishop of Namur and a doctor of the Sorbonne. He is sometimes referred to by the sobriquet Abbe Strickland, a title he earned through his academic and clerical accomplishments.
The Strickland surname remains a recognised English family name, documented within genealogical resources and heraldic records. Its longevity and varied spellings attest to the name’s resilience across centuries of social and linguistic change in Britain. In contemporary times, individuals bearing the surname often trace their heritage back to the medieval roots detailed above, and they may maintain connections to the historic regions of Cumberland and Westmoreland where the name first appeared.
Typical given names associated with the Strickland surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Robert
Female
- Catherine
- Claire
- Elizabeth
- Helen
- Janet
- Karen
- Lisa
- Margaret
- Mary
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Strickland in...
Braille
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Morse
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There are approximately 4,276 people named Strickland in the UK. That makes it roughly the 2,184th most common surname in Britain. Around 66 in a million people in Britain are named Strickland.
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Strickland
- Gerald Strickland, 1st Baron Strickland - Maltese-British politician (1861 to 1940)
- Peter Strickland - Army general (1869 to 1951)
- William Strickland - Politician (1880 to 1954)
- Derek Strickland - Scottish football player
- Jane Margaret Strickland - Writer (1800 to 1888)
- William Strickland - Writer (1753 to 1834)
- Sir Charles Strickland, 8th Baronet - Baronet (1819 to 1909)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.