Of all the
Anglo-Saxon names to come from Britain, Straight is one of the most ancient. The name is a result of the original family having lived in any of a number of places called Street, in Hertshire,
Kent and
Somerset. Straight is a
local surname, which belongs to the category of
hereditary surnames. Other types of local surnames include
topographic surnames, which could be given to a person who lived beside any physical feature, such as a hill, stream, church or type of tree.
Habitation names form the other broad category of surnames that were derived from place-names. They were derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. Other local names are derived from the names of houses, manors, estates, regions, and entire counties. The surname Straight comes from the Old English word
stræt, which means
Roman road. In the Middle Ages, this word came to denote the
main street in a village, and so the surname may also refer to someone who lived on the main street.
Early Origins of the Straight family
The surname Straight was first found in
Devon where they held a
family seat from ancient times, some say before the
Norman Conquest in 1066.
Early History of the Straight family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Straight research.
Another 161 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1621, 1689, 1625, 1696, 1621, 1679 and 1687 are included under the topic Early Straight History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Straight Spelling Variations
The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few
hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time,
spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Straight has been spelled many different ways, including Street, Streat, Strethe, Strete and others.
Early Notables of the Straight family (pre 1700)
Notables of the family at this time include Thomas Street (Streete) (1621-1689), an early English astronomer, best known for his book "Astronomia Carolina, a new theorie of Coelestial Motions" which was used as a reference for many years having at least three editions, eponym of the...
Another 46 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Straight Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Straight family to Ireland
Some of the Straight family moved to
Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 49 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Straight family to the New World and Oceana
Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Straights to arrive in North America:
Straight Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- Ada F. Straight, aged 30, who landed in America from Liverpool, in 1893
- Dora P. Straight, aged 36, who settled in America, in 1894
Straight Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
- Grace C. Straight, aged 33, who emigrated to the United States, in 1908
- Ethel Straight, aged 32, who landed in America from Brighton, England, in 1911
Straight Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
- Joseph Straight, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1760
- Joseph Straight, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1761
- William Straight, who landed in New Brunswick in 1783
- Mr. William Straight U.E. born in Kinningsworth, Connecticut, USA who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1783 passenger aboard the "Union" Transport was a Refiner of Iron [1]CITATION[CLOSE]
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X - Mr. William Straight U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 [1]CITATION[CLOSE]
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Contemporary Notables of the name Straight (post 1700)
- Susan Straight (b. 1960), American author and National Book Award finalist
- Michael Whitney Straight (1916-2004), American magazine publisher, novelist, patron of the arts
- Charles Theodore "Charley" Straight (1891-1940), American pianist, bandleader and composer
- Willard Dickerman Straight (1880-1918), American investment banker, publisher, reporter and diplomat
- Air Commodore Whitney Willard Straight CBE MC, DFC (1912-1979), American Grand Prix motor racing driver, aviator, businessman
- Beatrice Whitney Straight (1914-2001), American Academy Award winning, Emmy Award nominated theatre, film, and television actress