Starry History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The earliest origins of the family name Starry date back to the Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It was a name given to a person whose personality or appearance called to mind a star. Starry is a nickname, which belongs to the category of hereditary surnames. Nicknames form a broad and miscellaneous class of surnames, and can refer directly or indirectly to one's personality, physical attributes, mannerisms, or even their habits of dress. The surname Starry comes from the Old English words sterre, or starre, which mean star, and would have been given to someone with a bright personality. This word was also used to refer to a white patch of hair on the forehead of a horse, an so, it may have been transferred to refer to someone with a streak of white hair.

Early Origins of the Starry family

The surname Starry was first found in Wiltshire where they held a family seat from ancient times in the village of Longbridge Deverill at Glastonbury. It is said that King Alfred, King of the west Saxons, camped the night in the Deverill valley before defeating the Danes at the Battle of Ethandune in 878.

Early History of the Starry family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Starry research. Another 53 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1629, 1633, 1637 and 1672 are included under the topic Early Starry History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Starry Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Starry include Starr, Star, Starre, Ster, Sterr and others.

Early Notables of the Starry family

Another 33 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Starry Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Starry family to Ireland

Some of the Starry family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Starry family

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants: the Starr family who settled in Halifax N.S. where they became a powerful influence in the Canadian cultural and political scene. Comfort and Mary Starr settled in Massachusetts in 1634.

Contemporary Notables of the name Starry (post 1700) +

General Donn A. Starry, American Army officer, Commander of the Armor Center and the Armor School, Commander of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (1977)
Jack Starry, American actor, known for Artists & Models (1937) and Goodbye Broadway (1938)
Guy Starry, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Illinois, 1944

The Starry Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Vive en espoir
Motto Translation: Live in hope