Origins

The Stuurman family originates in Noordwolde situated in the province of Friesland. The name means pilot, mate or skipper and is derived from their former trade. In the 17th en 18th century they owned a ship and transported cargo on the Frisian inland waterways. They formally adopted the name Stuurman on February 6th, 1812. In the first half of the 19th century the family split in three branches: Jan Folkerts Stuurman stayed in Weststellingwerf (Noordwolde), Willem Folkerts Stuurman moved to Hoorn and Jan Sipkes Stuurman moved to Lemmer. After two generations a substantial part of the branch Hoorn eventually ended up in Amsterdam.

Until the middle of the 19th century given and surnames regularly changed during a human lifetime. The reasons were an imperfect administration of the population, illiteracy and the use of nicknames. For this genealogy the name in the register of baptisms and later from 1811 in the civil register of births is leading.

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We thank all the relatives who have given us information and so have contributed to this family tree.