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Easter History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Citations

Easter History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The surname Easter has multiple possible origins. First of all, the name could have been from L’Estre, near Valognes, Normandy. 1 In this case, the first record of the family was that of Richard de l’Estre who held lands in Dorset from the time of the Conquest. 2 The same rolls includes an entry for William del Estre, Devon, Henry III-Edward I. 3 In 1165, Richard de l’Estre held a barony of four knights’ fees in Somerset 4

Secondly, the name could have been a nickname for someone who has a connection with the Christian festival of Easter, such as someone born or baptized at that time. 5

Finally, the name could have been derived from a group of villages so named in Essex having derived from the Old English word "eowestre," meaning sheepfold 6 or the Anglo-Saxon word Eásthere or Esthere, derived from "East" + the Old English word "here" meaning "army." 7

Early Origins of the Easter family

The surname Easter was first found in Essex. 8 9 A scan of early 12th century records show Jordan del estre in Leicestershire and later the Feet of Fines for Cambridgeshire included Robert del Estre in 1272. John de Estre was listed in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1345. 6

By the time of the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, the name was more widespread as that census includes entries for Robert de le Estre, Suffolk; and Robert del Ester, Cambridgeshire. 3

Early History of the Easter family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Easter research. Another 119 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1783 and 1848 are included under the topic Early Easter History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Easter Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries. For that reason, spelling variations are common among many Anglo-Norman names. The shape of the English language was frequently changed with the introduction of elements of Norman French, Latin, and other European languages; even the spelling of literate people's names were subsequently modified. Easter has been recorded under many different variations, including Astor, Aster, Astur, Astorr, Asterr, Asturr, Estor, Ester, Esturr, Astoria, Estoria, E'Stur, Stur and many more.

Early Notables of the Easter family

More information is included under the topic Early Easter Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Easter Ranking

In the United States, the name Easter is the 2,712^nd most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. 10

Easter migration to the United States +

To escape the uncertainty of the political and religious uncertainty found in England, many English families boarded ships at great expense to sail for the colonies held by Britain. The passages were expensive, though, and the boats were unsafe, overcrowded, and ridden with disease. Those who were hardy and lucky enough to make the passage intact were rewarded with land, opportunity, and social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families went on to be important contributors to the young nations of Canada and the United States where they settled. Easters were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America:

Easter Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

William Easter, who landed in Virginia in 1663 11

Easter Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Capt. Easter, who landed in Mobile, Ala in 1822 11
John Easter, who arrived in New York in 1833 11
Daniel L. Coffie, aged 24, Canadian settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "America" in 1833 12
George Coffie, aged 44, Canadian settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Janolinta" in 1842 12
Berry Coffie, aged 5, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Oxford" in 1846 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Easter Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Mrs Eugene A. Easter, who landed in America, in 1903
Alverda Mai Easter, who immigrated to the United States, in 1903
D. B. Easter, aged 39, who settled in America, in 1906
Herbert Easter, aged 23, who immigrated to America from London, in 1906
James Easter, aged 7, who landed in America from Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1908
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Easter migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Easter Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Edward Easter, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Mariner" in 1847 13

Easter Settlers in Australia in the 20th Century

Mr. Easter, settler from Calcutta who arrived in Fremantle, Australia aboard the ship "Sydney" in 1903 14
E Easter, settler from London who arrived in Fremantle, Australia aboard the ship "Orontes" in 1909 14
Dauglas Easter, settler from Bremen who arrived in Fremantle, Australia aboard the ship "Bremen" in 1909 14
Mr. Harry G. Easter, settler from London who arrived in Melbourne, Australia aboard the ship "Orama" in 1911 14
Mr. W. Easter, settler from London who arrived in Melbourne, Australia aboard the ship "Ormonde" in 1922 14

Easter migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Easter Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Thomas Easter, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Canute" in 1867
Margaret Easter, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Canute" in 1867

Contemporary Notables of the name Easter (post 1700) +

Luke Easter (1915-1979), American Major League Baseball player
Mitch Easter, American musician and producer, best known for his work with REM (1981 to 1984)
Luke Easter, American singer and songwriter with the Christian metal band Tourniquet
Glen Easter, American politician, Candidate for Mayor of North Las Vegas, Nevada, 2001 15
Andrew J. Easter, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate in primary for Governor of Maryland, 1966 15
Abbi Easter, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Virginia, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 15
Graham Easter (b. 1969), English former professional footballer
David Easter (b. 1959), English actor, known for his roles in Family Affairs, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks
Nick Easter (b. 1978), English rugby union player
Wayne Easter PC (b. 1949), former Canadian politician
... (Another 6 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Easter family +

HMS Repulse

Mr. Norman G Easter, British Able Bodied Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 16

Citations +

The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Testa de Nevill or "Liber Feodorum" or "Book of Fees," thought to have been written by Ralph de Nevill, for King John (1199–1216)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Liber Niger Scutarii ("Black Book of the Exchequer"), containing reports by county on feudal holdings in England in 1166 (reign of Henry II)
Hanks, Patricia and Flavia Hodges, A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. Print. (ISBN 0-19-211592-8)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Ellis Island Search retrieved 21st October 2021. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) MARINER 1847. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1847Mariner.htm
National Archives of Australia retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ListingReports/PassengerListing.aspx
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 7) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html