Show ContentsStorr History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Storr family

The surname Storr was first found in Northumberland where they were said to be descended from an ancient line of Viking settlers of knightly degree and with episcopal rank. Roughly translated from the Viking records the name means "dweller by large and rough water". They moved north into Renfrewshire, Scotland and acquired considerable estates. In Scotland, William Storie was a charter witness in Dundee in 1281. Walter Stori was canon of Aberdeen in 1320 and Adam Story was one of 'burgenses rure manentes in Aberdeen, 1317. 1

A few years later, in England, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 revealed Thomas Storre; Johannes Storre; and Roger Storre as all holding lands there at that time. "Storey is still among the most familiar of Yorkshire names, but it has become, of necessity, mixed with Storer, which also is well established in that county." 2

The variant Stary dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 where the original name Stari was recorded in Suffolk. 3 Later, John Starie was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls for Worcestershire in 1275. In this case, the name may from the Old Norse name Stari, which was a nickname from stari, meaning "starling." 4

Early History of the Storr family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Storr research. Another 166 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1468, 1477, 1503, 1504, 1545, 1554, 1569, 1571, 1576, 1603, 1642, 1664, 1670, 1691, 1698, 1700, 1701, 1706, 1721, 1742, 1789, 1790, 1795, 1805, 1807, 1809, 1811, 1815, 1834, 1859, 1860 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Storr History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Storr Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Storie, Storey, Sturye, De Stury, Storrie, Story and many more.

Early Notables of the Storr family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was Edward Story or Storey (died 1503), English priest, Bishop of Carlisle, 1468-1477, and Bishop of Chichester, 1477-1503; and Blessed John Story (or Storey) (1504-1571), English Roman Catholic martyr. He may have been a member of the family of that name settled in Northumberland and Durham. "Story was indicted in Westminster Hall on 26 May 1571 with Christopher and Francis Norton and Christopher Neville. He was accused of having incited Alva to invade England, and of having...
Another 86 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Storr Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Storr family to Ireland

Some of the Storr family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 78 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Storr migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Storr Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Anna Marg Storr, aged 48, who landed in New York in 1710 5
  • Eliz Catharine Storr, aged 12, who arrived in New York in 1710 5
  • Michael Storr, aged 38, who landed in New York in 1710 5
  • Georg Adam Storr, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1751 5
  • Frederic Storr, who landed in America in 1777-1783 5
Storr Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Rosa Storr, aged 3, who immigrated to the United States, in 1895
Storr Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Agnes Storr, aged 39, who settled in America from Grittel, Austria, in 1908
  • Elizabeth Storr, aged 26, who immigrated to the United States from Wellington, New Zealand, in 1911
  • Sydney Storr, aged 22, who landed in America, in 1918
  • Annie K. Storr, aged 49, who landed in America from Market Rasen, England, in 1919
  • Franz Storr, aged 25, who landed in America from Konigsbach, Germany, in 1923
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Storr migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Storr Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Storr, (b. 1801), aged 43, English labourer who was convicted in Northallerton, Yorkshire, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Equestrian" on 25th January 1844, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Island), he died in 1871 6
  • H. Storr, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Emu" in 1846 7
  • Miss Jane Storr who was convicted in London, England for 20 years, transported aboard the "Cadet" on 4th September 1847, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 8
  • James Storr, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "John Woodall" in 1849 9

Contemporary Notables of the name Storr (post 1700) +

  • Robert Storr, American curator, critic and painter
  • Lewis Storr, American politician, Mayor of Marshall, Michigan, 1948-52 10
  • Paul Storr (1771-1844), English silversmith, sculptor, and designer in London
  • Catherine Storr (1913-2001), English novelist and children's writer, best known for her novel Marianne Dreams
  • Anthony Storr (1920-2001), English psychiatrist and author
  • Jamie Storr (b. 1975), Canadian NHL ice hockey goaltender
  • Gottlieb Conrad Christian Storr (1749-1821), German physician and naturalist
  • Glen Milton Storr (1921-1990), Australian ornithologist


  1. 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)
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  4. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  5. 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)
  6. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 4th May 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/equestrian
  7. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) EMU 1846. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1846Emu.gif
  8. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/cadet/
  9. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) JOHN WOODALL 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849JohnWoodall.htm
  10. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 7) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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