Show ContentsSterr History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Sterr is a name whose history is entwined with the ancient Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It was a name for a person whose personality or appearance called to mind a star. Sterr 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 Sterr 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 Sterr family

The surname Sterr 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 Sterr family

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

Sterr Spelling Variations

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 Sterr were recorded, including Starr, Star, Starre, Ster, Sterr and others.

Early Notables of the Sterr family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

  • Peter Sterry (d. 1672), Cromwell's chaplain, born in Surrey, entered Emmanuel College, Cambridge, on 21 Oct...

Ireland Migration of the Sterr family to Ireland

Some of the Sterr 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 Sterr migration to the United States +

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 Sterr family emigrate to North America:

Sterr Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • George Sterr, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1765 [1]
Sterr Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Johann Sterr, aged 33, who landed in New York in 1854 [1]

Contemporary Notables of the name Sterr (post 1700) +

  • Heinrich Sterr, German fighter pilot and flying ace in the Luftwaffe, during World War II, credited with 130 aerial victories, awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross


The Sterr 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


  1. 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)


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