Show ContentsAstay History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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  • Scotland
Astay Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Astay

What does the name Astay mean?

The Strathclyde Briton clans of the Scottish/English Borderlands were the first to use the name Astay. It is derived from "the name of an ancestor, 'the son of Anastasia,' from the nickname Anstie, abbreviated to Astie." 1

Some sources note the Hastie variant could have been a nickname for someone who was "hasty, impatient." 2 3 4

Early Origins of the Astay family

The surname Astay was first found in Lanarkshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Lannraig) a former county in the central Strathclyde region of Scotland, now divided into the Council Areas of North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, and the City of Glasgow.

"Robert Hasty and John Hasty were tenants of Herthornhill in 1376, Thom Hasti witnessed an instrument of sasine dated 1478, and John Haisty was witness to another instrument of sasine in 1525. " 5

Further to the south, the surname was typically found without the "H" prefix as the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed: Adam Asty, Kent; and John Asty, Norfolk. 1

Norfolk had some early entries for the name too: Thomas Asty, Norfolk, 1374; and Robert Asty, rector of West Herling, Norfolk, 1410. 6

Early History of the Astay family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Astay research. Another 130 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1523, 1543, 1556, 1567, 1595, 1626, 1672, 1730 and 1800 are included under the topic Early Astay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Astay Spelling Variations

The origin of rules governing the spelling of names and even words is a very recent innovation. Before that, words and names were spelled according to sound, and, therefore, often appeared under several different spelling variations in a single document. Astay has been spelled Hastie, Hasty, Asty and others.

Early Notables of the Astay family

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

Migration of the Astay family

The persecution faced in their homeland left many Scots with little to do but sail for the colonies of North America. There they found land, freedom, opportunity, and nations in the making. They fought for their freedom in the American War of Independence, or traveled north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. In both cases, they made enormous contributions to the formation of those great nations. Among them: William Hastie who settled in New England in 1685; Mary Hastie settled in Boston in 1848 with her husband and five children.
  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  3. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  4. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  5. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  6. Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print

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