Stringer is an English occupational surname. It originally denoted a maker of rope or strings, and especially the specialist producers of bowstrings for the famous English longbows used for both hunting and war. The name derives from an agent derivative of the Old English streng, meaning "string," which in turn comes from the Old Norse strengr.
Etymology and History
The surname is based on the Old English word streng for "string." In Yorkshire, where the name is still particularly common, some researchers such as George Redmonds have argued that the surname may also have been connected with ironworking, with a "stringer" operating some form of specialist hearth. Early examples of the surname recorded in authentic registers and charters of the medieval period include Roger le Strenger in 1293 in Yorkshire, and Lady Godwyna Strenger in 1328 in Somerset. The first recorded spelling of the family name is believed to be that of Walter Str… in the Hundred Rolls of 1273.
Notable Bearers
Notable individuals with the surname include the fictional character Howard Stringer from the television series The Wire, and various people in sports, music, and politics.
Distribution
The surname is most common in English-speaking countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Australia.
- Meaning: Occupational name for a maker of string or bowstrings
- Origin: English
- Type: Occupational surname
- Usage Regions: United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia
Sources: Wikipedia — Stringer (name)