Stuart
A spelling of Stewart, ultimately from the English occupational title steward.
The #951 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 8,450 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Stuart is a spelling variant of Stewart, and the surname goes back to the office of steward, a household manager or administrator. The word is usually traced to Old English and Middle English forms of 'steward,' with possible Scandinavian influence in the broader development of the word. In surname use, it began as a status or occupational name rather than a clan name or royal title.
History
Historical sources note that Stuart is simply a sharpened spelling of Stewart. The form became especially prominent because it was adopted by the royal House of Stuart in Scotland, but that family name itself comes from the steward office, not from any legendary Gaelic descent. In modern English-speaking use, Stuart is common as both a surname and a given name.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The famous royal surname Stuart was popularized in France because French spelling lacked the letter 'w', so 'Stewart' was rendered as 'Stuart'.
From the historical record
“STUARD : v. Steward. STUART : v. Stewart. STUBB (Eng. and Scand.) Dweller at the Tree-Stump [O.E. stybb, stubb = O.N. stubb-r] ... eft on ellen stubb (. . . again to the alder-stump). — Berks Charter, A.D. 956 ; Cart. Sax. no. 1 183. Guy de Stub.— Gt. Ing. Serv., A.D. 1212.”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)