Find out how popular the last name Starling is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Starling.

Starling, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Starling surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Starling in America

Starling is the 3567th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Starling surname appeared 10,004 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Starling.

We can also compare 2010 data for Starling to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Starling

The surname Starling is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "starling" or "staerling," which refers to the small songbird known as the starling. This name likely originated as a nickname or descriptive name for someone who resembled the bird in some way, perhaps due to their appearance, behavior, or fondness for the bird.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Starling can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where it is written as "Starling." This suggests that the name was already established by the 13th century in England.

In the 14th century, the name appears in various records, including the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1379, where it is written as "Starlynge." This spelling variation highlights the fluidity of surnames during that time period.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Starling include William Starling (c. 1589-1628), an English clergyman and author who wrote a treatise on the Book of Revelation. Another early figure was Thomas Starling (c. 1617-1667), an English merchant and benefactor who founded a school in Bromley, Kent.

During the 17th century, the name Starling can be found in various parish records and historical documents. One notable example is Robert Starling (1630-1698), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Malmesbury.

In the 18th century, the surname gained prominence with individuals like Samuel Starling (1740-1805), an English architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Freemasons' Hall.

Another noteworthy figure was Thomas Starling (1767-1826), an English agriculturist and author who wrote extensively on farming practices and was a proponent of the use of modern agricultural machinery.

As the centuries progressed, the Starling surname continued to be found throughout England, with various families and individuals contributing to various fields, including literature, science, and politics.

Overall, the surname Starling has a rich history rooted in the English language and culture, with its origins dating back to the 13th century and numerous individuals bearing the name making significant contributions throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Starling

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Starling.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Starling was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Starling has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Starling was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Starling, please contact us.

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