The surname Astry was first found in Bedfordshire (Old English: Bedanfordscir) in Southeast-central England, formerly part of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia. First mentioned as a county in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle in 1011, Bedfordshire's boundaries have survived virtually unchanged to this day. It was here. The Saxon influence of English history diminished after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The language of the courts was French for the next three centuries and the Norman ambience prevailed. But Saxon surnames survived and the family name was first referenced in the 13th century when they held estates in that shire. They held a family seat at Wood-end and Henbury.
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Astry research. Another 150 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1510, 1600, 1097, 1095, 1390, 1531, 1556, 1455, 1487, 1493, 1632, 1714, 1647, 1648, 1651 and 1654 are included under the topic Early Astry History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Astry were recorded, including Astry, Astrie, Ashtre, Ashtree, Astree, Astrey, Austry, Austrey, Austrie and many more.
Distinguished members of the family include Sir Ralph Astry, Lord Mayor of London in 1493; and Richard Astry (c. 1632-1714), an English antiquary from Huntingdonshire. "He was admitted of Queens' College, Cambridge...
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Astry Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Astry family emigrate to North America: