Astor History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
France

The surname Astor 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 Astor family

The surname Astor 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 Astor family

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

Astor Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, Anglo-Norman surnames like Astor are characterized by many spelling variations. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages such as Norman French and Latin, even literate people regularly changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Astor include Astor, Aster, Astur, Astorr, Asterr, Asturr, Estor, Ester, Esturr, Astoria, Estoria, E'Stur, Stur and many more.

Early Notables of the Astor family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Mary Aster, Lady Astor, The Astors of Hever

Astor migration to the United States +

Faced with the chaos present in England at that time, many English families looked towards the open frontiers of the New World with its opportunities to escape oppression and starvation. People migrated to North America, as well as Australia and Ireland in droves, paying exorbitant rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, but those who did see the shores of North America were welcomed with great opportunity. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America carried the name Astor, or a variant listed above:

Astor Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Henrich Astor, who landed in New York in 1784 10
John Jacob Astor, who arrived in Baltimore, Maryland in 1784 10

Astor Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

J. J. Astor, aged 59 who arrived (with child) in New York in 1822 and moved westward
J. J. Astor, aged 59 settled in New York with his child in 1822

Contemporary Notables of the name Astor (post 1700) +

Patti Astor (1950-2024), American performer and co-founder of the instrumental contemporary art gallery, Fun Gallery
Roberta Brooke Astor (1902-2007), American philanthropist, socialite and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
John Jacob Astor (1763-1848), American (German-born) fur magnate and financier, who became one of wealthiest men in America
Lt. Col. John Jacob Astor, 1st Baron Astor of Hever, American-born, English military officer, statesman, and newspaper proprietor
Waldorf Astor, 2nd Viscount Astor, English (American born) businessman and politician
William Backhouse Astor (1792-1875), American financier
Mary Astor (1906-1987), Academy Award-winning American actress most famous for her role as Brigid O'Shaughnessy in The Maltese Falcon (1941) opposite Humphrey Bogart
William Waldorf Astor (1848-1919), American Republican politician, Member of New York State Assembly from New York County 11th District, 1878; Member of New York State Senate 10th District, 1880-81 11
John Jacob III Astor (1822-1890), American Republican politician, Presidential Elector for New York, 1880; Presidential Elector for New York, 1880 11
Hon. Francis David Langhorne Astor (1912-2001), English newspaper publisher
... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Astor family +

RMS Titanic

Mrs. Madeleine Talmage Astor, (née Force), aged 18, American First Class passenger from New York City, New York who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking escaping in life boat 4 12
Colonel John Jacob Astor IV (d. 1912), aged 47, American First Class passenger, businessman, inventor, writer, of the prominent Astor family from New York City, who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking and was recovered by CS Mackay-Bennett 12

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.
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)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 8) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html