Show ContentsStarkey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Starkey family

The surname Starkey was first found in Cheshire where they the first ancestor was Geoffry Starky, of Barthington (Barnton), son of Richards Starkie of Stetton. [1] The senior branch of this Cheshire family was resident at Lower Hall in Stretton, and a junior branch held a family seat at Over Hall in that same village.

Early History of the Starkey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Starkey research. Another 245 words (18 lines of text) covering the years 1100, 1465, 1495, 1503, 1523, 1538, 1539, 1543, 1554, 1566, 1576, 1578, 1583, 1628, 1656, 1664, 1665, 1853, 1856 and 1884 are included under the topic Early Starkey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Starkey Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Starkey, Starkie, Starky, Starckey, Starckie and others.

Early Notables of the Starkey family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • Sir Humphrey Starkey; Thomas Starkey (c.1495-1538), an English political theorist and humanist; John Starkey, was a publisher active in London in the second half of the 17th century; John Starkey (c.1...
  • Hugh Starkey, gentleman usher to Henry VIII had the church of Over, a market-town and parish in Chester rebuilt in 1543; "the interior has some good stained glass and tabernaclework, and an altar-tomb...

Starkey Ranking

In the United States, the name Starkey is the 2,273rd most popular surname with an estimated 14,922 people with that name. [2]

Ireland Migration of the Starkey family to Ireland

Some of the Starkey 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.


United States Starkey migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Starkey Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Elizabeth Starkey who settled in Virginia in 1623
  • Elizabeth Starkey, who landed in Jamestown, Va in 1624 [3]
  • Phillip, William, and Peter Starkey, who settled in Virginia in 1652
  • Peter Starkey, who arrived in Virginia in 1652 [3]
  • Philip Starkey, who landed in Virginia in 1652 [3]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Starkey Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Robert Starkey, who landed in New England in 1728 [3]
Starkey Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Frederick, John, Joseph, and Josiah Starkey, who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania between 1806 and 1852
  • Charles Starkey, who settled in Bristol Rhode Island in 1820
  • John Starkey, who arrived in Mississippi in 1844 [3]
  • William Starkey, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1876 [3]
  • Joseph Starkey, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1878 [3]

Canada Starkey migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Starkey Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mr. Jacob Starkey U.E. who settled in Belle Vue, Beaver Harbour, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1783 [4]
  • Private. Mordecai Starkey U.E. (b. 1756) born in New Jersey, USA from New Jersey, USA who settled in Parr Town [Saint John], New Brunswick c. 1784, then resettled in 1790 to Queens, Wickham, Washademoak Lake, New Brunswick he enlisted in 1777 serving in the New Jersey Volunteers 2nd and 3rd Battalions, married to Mary Akerley having 11 children, he died in 1849 [4]
Starkey Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
  • Mrs. H Starkey, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1907

Australia Starkey migration to Australia +

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

Starkey Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. James Starkey, (b. 1809), aged 22, English labourer who was convicted in Stafford, Staffordshire, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Camden" on 21st March 1831, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1831 shortly after arriving [5]
  • Mr. William Starkey who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Bengal Merchant" on 4th August 1836, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [6]

New Zealand Starkey 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:

Starkey Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • James Starkey, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Mermaid" in 1859 [7]
  • Theophilus Starkey, aged 42, a shoemaker, who arrived in Hawkes Bay aboard the ship "Clarence" in 1875
  • Eliza Starkey, aged 41, who arrived in Hawkes Bay aboard the ship "Clarence" in 1875
  • Eliza Starkey, aged 9, who arrived in Hawkes Bay aboard the ship "Clarence" in 1875
  • Maria Starkey, aged 6, who arrived in Hawkes Bay aboard the ship "Clarence" in 1875
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Starkey (post 1700) +

  • Steve Starkey, American Academy Award winning film producer and second unit director, best known for his work on Forrest Gump and Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
  • George Starkey, American actor
  • Dean Starkey (b. 1967), American bronze medalist pole vaulter at the 1997 World Championships
  • Zak Richard Starkey (b. 1965), English rock drummer, son of Beatles drummer Ringo Starr
  • Malcolm Starkey (b. 1936), English former professional footballer
  • Greville Starkey (1939-2010), English jockey who rode almost 2,000 winning horses
  • Dr. Phyllis Starkey (b. 1947), English politician
  • Maureen Starkey (1940-1994), former wife of Ringo Starr
  • David Robert Starkey CBE, FSA (b. 1945), English historian, radio and television presenter
  • Sir William Randle Starkey, 2nd Baronet
  • ... (Another 5 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


The Starkey 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: Redit expectata diu
Motto Translation: The expected returns for a long time


  1. Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
  2. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  3. 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)
  4. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  5. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 2nd December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/camden
  6. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 7th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bengal-merchant
  7. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 5th November 2010). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html


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