Strickland is a habitational English surname, derived from the villages of Strickland Ketel and Strickland Roger in the historical county of Westmorland (now part of Cumbria). The name comes from the Old English elements stirc, meaning 'bullock' or 'young steer,' and land, meaning 'cultivated land' or 'estate.' Thus, Strickland originally referred to a farm or settlement where cattle were raised.
As a surname, Strickland is most commonly found in English-speaking countries, particularly in the United States, where according to the 2010 Census, it ranks as the 494th most common surname. The name also appears as a placename in the United States (a town in Wisconsin) and Australia (a locality named after Governor Gerald Strickland).
Notable bearers of the surname include English bishop William Strickland (died 1419), who served as Bishop of Carlisle; Charles Strickland, the protagonist of W. Somerset Maugham's novel The Moon and Sixpence; and contemporary figures such as musician Evan Rachel Wood's partner Shirley Manson (though she does not bear the surname) and various academics, like Professor Michael Strickland, a physicist.
- Meaning: Bullock land (from Old English stirc 'bullock' + land)
- Origin: Habitational name from villages in Cumbria, England
- Type: Surname Common Regions: English-speaking world, especially USA and UK
Sources: Wiktionary — Strickland