Surname Starbuck - Meaning and Origin
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Starbuck: What does the surname Starbuck mean?
The last name Starbuck is an English surname of Olde English origin, derived from the Old English word "Stabaca", which describes the sound of a west wind blowing in a valley. It is widely believed to have originally been used to describe those living in the vicinity of a valley.
The Starbuck name is believed to have first appeared in the Middle Ages, as a descriptive name for one who lived near a large west wind blowing through a valley. The name is derived from two Olde English words: "Stab" meaning "valley" and "aca" meaning "gust of wind". This combination of words gave rise to the nickname of the "Starbuck", meaning "valley dweller".
The origin of the Starbuck name is believed to have come from the village of Starborough in Kent, England, which has a topographic feature resembling a rather deep valley. The topography of this particular valley, coupled with its location and close proximity to the North Sea, provided an ideal site for a formidable west wind to blow through.
The Starbuck surname is a fairly common name throughout the United Kingdom, United States, and Canada; and is also recorded as an American surname in the United States Federal Census. Today, the Starbuck name is most commonly associated with a coffee franchise, with Starbucks Corporation claiming its name from the surname.
The surname Starbuck is believed to have been derived from the Old English language, and is a testament to the rich and varied history of the British Isles.
Order DNA origin analysisStarbuck: Where does the name Starbuck come from?
The last name Starbuck is most commonly found in the United States of America, where it is the 5,860th most commonly used last name. According to the US Census Bureau of 2000, the states with the highest concentration of Starbuck’s are Massachusetts, where it ranks as the 39th most commonly used last name; or Maine, where it is the 41st most common. It is also found in Ontario, Canada where it is the 6,256th most commonly used family name.
The surname Starbuck has been associated with descendants of William Starbuck, an Englishman who arrived in America in 1639 and settled in Nantucket, Massachusetts. Over the generations, the Starbuck family would grow and spread throughout the United States, including as far west as California, Oregon, and Washington State. The descendants of William Starbuck, however, trace their roots back to Scotland, with the name originally being derived from the Gaelic phrase “stair-buic”.
The Starbuck family is proud of its history in the United States and continues to carry the name forward today. Its members can be found among the various professional ranks such as business, political or military leaders, as well as among the everyday people who make the nation what it is.
Variations of the surname Starbuck
The surname Starbuck has variants, spellings, and other surnames of the same origin.
Starbucks is the most common spelling of this surname. Other less common variations include Starbucke, Starbock, Starbuc, Starbeck, Starbec, Starbak, and Starbach.
The surname Starbuck can also have alternate spellings when written in other languages. There are spellings such as St̉orbach in German, Starbaek in Danish, Starbäck in Swedish, Storbach in Polish, Stockbach in Czech, and Storbuk in Norwegian. It is also written in Yiddish as Storbach.
The surname Starbuck is also linked to many different surnames of similar origin. These include Storbakken, Starbacher, Starbee, and Starbek. The surnames Starbase, Starbux, and Starby are also believed to be derived from Starbuck.
In addition, Starbuck was a relatively common given name in many languages in the 1600s, with surnames such as Starbucket, Starbuckman, Starbouck, Starbuken, Starbuke, and Starbusch being related to this given name.
Most of these variants and surnames of the same origin can still be found today in Britain, as well as in the United States and Canada.
Famous people with the name Starbuck
- Patrick Starbuck: An American soccer player known for his time with the Carolina Dynamo and the PDL championship title.
- Richard Starbuck: An American actor best known for his roles in The Long Riders, Agent on Ice, and Boy Genius.
- Paul Starbuck: A Canadian politician who was the second son of Nelson Starbuck and elected member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia.
- Alison Starbuck: An American actress known for her roles in programs like Criminal Minds, No Ordinary Family, Southland, and Brothers & Sisters.
- Lyle Starbuck: An American professional golfer and member of the PGA Tour who won two tournaments during his career.
- Victoria Starbuck: An American horror, romance, and fantasy author who wrote the Heaven's Army series.
- Buster Starbuck: An American country music singer-songwriter and musician who charted three hits on the Hot Country Songs charts and is well known for his work on Liberty Records.
- Tom Starbuck: An American soccer player who played for clubs in the United States and England including the Los Angeles Galaxy and Oxford United.
- Rosie Starbuck: An Australian actress who has appeared in multiple television and stage productions including roles in Cold Feet, Aliens in the Attic, and All Saints.
- Kathryn Starbuck: An American science fiction author best known for her work on The Thunder Road Series.