Stermer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany
Ireland

The ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of England produced the name of Stermer. It was given to a person whose personality or appearance called to mind a star. Stermer is a nickname, which belongs to the category of hereditary surnames. Nicknames form a broad and miscellaneous class of surnames, and can refer directly or indirectly to one's personality, physical attributes, mannerisms, or even their habits of dress. The surname Stermer comes from the Old English words sterre, or starre, which mean star, and would have been given to someone with a bright personality. This word was also used to refer to a white patch of hair on the forehead of a horse, an so, it may have been transferred to refer to someone with a streak of white hair.

Early Origins of the Stermer family

The surname Stermer was first found in Wiltshire where they held a family seat from ancient times in the village of Longbridge Deverill at Glastonbury. It is said that King Alfred, King of the west Saxons, camped the night in the Deverill valley before defeating the Danes at the Battle of Ethandune in 878.

Early History of the Stermer family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Stermer research. Another 53 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1629, 1633, 1637 and 1672 are included under the topic Early Stermer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Stermer Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Stermer has appeared include Starr, Star, Starre, Ster, Sterr and others.

Early Notables of the Stermer family

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

Migration of the Stermer family to Ireland

Some of the Stermer 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.

Migration of the Stermer family

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Stermer arrived in North America very early: the Starr family who settled in Halifax N.S. where they became a powerful influence in the Canadian cultural and political scene. Comfort and Mary Starr settled in Massachusetts in 1634.

The Stermer 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: Vive en espoir
Motto Translation: Live in hope