This very interesting and unusual name has long confused researchers who look for (and find) a German origin. However, it is not German but English, although the origination is Norse-Viking pre 7th century and derives from 'Styrr' - a personal name plus 'aecer' - meaning 'the cultivated land', the modern description being 'Styrr's farm'. In effect the name is locational and believed to be from the Garstang area in Lancashire, although the early recordings are from Yorkshire. The name development includes William Steresaker of York in 1477, Thomas Styrsaker of Leicester 1620, John Sturzaker of Garstang in 1664 etc. There are six modern spellings. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Johannes de Steresaker which was dated 1379 The Yorkshire Poll Tax Records during the reign of King Richard 11 Richard of Bordeaux 1378-1400 Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.