Aster History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The surname Aster 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 Aster family

The surname Aster 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 Aster family

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

Aster 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. Aster 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 Aster family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Mary Aster, Lady Astor, The Astors of Hever

Aster 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. Asters were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America:

Aster Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Edward Aster, who landed in Virginia in 1664 10

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)