Starling's last name popularity, history, and meaning

Find out how popular the last name Starling's 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's.

Meaning of Starling's

An English surname referring to someone who caught or kept starlings.

Starling's, 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's surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Starling's in America

Starling's is the 127948th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Starling's surname appeared 123 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Starling's.

The history of the last name Starling's

The surname Starlings is of English origin, dating back to the medieval period. The name likely emerged around the 13th or 14th centuries in the southeastern regions of England, such as Sussex or Kent. It is believed to be derived from the Middle English word "sterling," which in Old English had the form "stær," meaning starling, the name of a bird known for its distinctive, chattering calls and iridescent plumage.

Early records of the surname show variations in spelling, indicative of the phonetic interpretations common during the time. Examples include Starling, Sterlyng, and Stirling. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1296, where a John Starling is noted. By the 14th century, the name starts appearing more frequently in legal documents and parish records.

In historical references, the name Starling is found in various manuscripts. For instance, a William Starling is mentioned in the Close Rolls of King Edward III during the 1350s, illustrating the surname's presence in parliamentary and royal records. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also mention a Thomas Sterlyng in Oxfordshire, showcasing a further geographic spread.

Among notable historical figures, Richard Starling (1502-1573) was an influential English merchant and alderman of London. Another prominent individual was Anne Starling, who lived in the late 16th century and was noted for her association with the Elizabethan court. Moving into the 17th century, Samuel Starling (1625-1674) made a name as a notable English clergyman and scholar.

The surname also has geographical associations, with several small hamlets or locations in England bearing names that may have derived from the same etymological root, reflecting the local presence of starlings. One such place is the village of Starling in Sussex, although now much less prominent.

In the 19th century, Joseph Starling (1814-1879) became known as a prominent figure in the British agricultural reform movement. Another person of note is Mary Starling, celebrated for her botanical studies in the early 20th century, contributing to the understanding of plant species in the English countryside.

Overall, the surname Starlings traces a lineage rich in history, characterized by its connection to an everyday aspect of English rural life - the starling bird - and its proliferation across various regions and records throughout centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Starling's

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Starling's was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 47.97% 59
Non-Hispanic Black Only 52.03% 64
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 0.00% 0
Hispanic Origin 0.00% 0

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.

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's 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's, please contact us.

Reference this page

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Starling's last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 31, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/starlings-surname-popularity/.

"Starling's last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/starlings-surname-popularity/. Accessed 31 October, 2025

Starling's last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/starlings-surname-popularity/.

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