The English surname Stark, also found in Scotland and Ireland, is derived from the Middle English term stark meaning “firm, or unyielding,” hence a nickname for a stern, determined, or physically strong person. The name is first recorded in 1314 when William Stark appears in the Fine Court Rolls of Essex as a witness. The surname is well recorded in Scotland from the late 14th Century onwards. The name, with its variant forms Starkie and Starkey, is in Ireland since the 14th Century. A notable bearer was the 19th Century American businessman and politician Benjamin Stark. Today there are approximately 42,000 people with the family name Stark residing in The United States.

STARK FAMILY CREST CUFFLINKS