STARLING
Starling is an English surname with early documentary evidence that places its origin in the British Isles. It is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, where forms such as Starlingus and Starlinc appear in Suffolk. The earliest surviving spelling of the name is that of Jordon Starling, dated 1166 in the Pipe Rolls of Cambridgeshire, during the reign of King Henry XI. The surname also appears in the latter half of the twelfth century, with a further example being Richard Sterling, noted in the Pipe Rolls of Hertfordshire in 1230. A variant of the name is Sterling.
The etymology of Starling is rooted in the Middle English word sterling, meaning little star. The name is generally understood to have been a nickname given to an individual who exhibited a bright or shining appearance, or who possessed a star-like quality of character. The root term can also be linked to the Old English pre‑seventeenth‑century word staerling and the Middle English starling meaning the bird of the same name. It is a classic example of an early European surname formed from habitual nicknames that described physical attributes, mental or moral characteristics, or resemblances to animals and birds.
In addition to its use as a family name, the original word was occasionally adopted as a personal name. This is reflected in the placement of the individuals Starlingus and Starlinc in the Domesday survey, indicating that the appellation could have functioned as a given name before becoming hereditary. The surname subsequently evolved into the more common spelling Sterling in some lineages, while others retained the traditional Starling form.
Evidence of the surname’s migration beyond England is seen in the early American colonies. William Starling, aged eighteen, departed from the Port of London aboard the vessel Primrose bound for Virginia in July 1635, and is recorded as one of the earliest settlers to carry the name across the Atlantic.
The heraldic arms associated with the Starling name are described as silver background with a blue bend bearing three gold square buckles. This coat of arms, granted to the family, visually conveys the idea of solidity and steadfastness, qualities traditionally associated with the surname’s meaning of brightness and steadfastness.
Typical given names associated with the Starling surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Robert
Female
- Carol
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Jacqueline
- Janet
- Julie
- Karen
- Margaret
- Rachel
- Rebecca
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Starling in...
Braille
⠎⠞⠁⠗⠇⠊⠝⠛
Morse
...-.-.-..-....-.--.
Semaphore
There are approximately 3,499 people named Starling in the UK. That makes it roughly the 2,619th most common surname in Britain. Around 54 in a million people in Britain are named Starling.
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Starling
- Ernest Starling - Biologist (1866 to 1927)
- Hannah Starling - Diver
- Alan Starling - Football player
- Avril Starling - Cricketer
- Peter Starling - (1925 to 1984)
- Ronnie Starling - Football player (1909 to 1991)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.