NameCensus.

UK surname

Starr

An occupational surname referring to a person who worked as a asterisk maker, steward, or synagogue official.

In the 1881 census there were 1,469 people recorded with the Starr surname, ranking it #2,842 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,635, ranked #2,532, up from #2,842 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Caerphilly, Bristol and South Gloucestershire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Starr is 2,709 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 79.4%.

1881 census count

1,469

Ranked #2,842

Modern count

2,635

2016, ranked #2,532

Peak year

2014

2,709 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Starr had 1,469 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,842 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,635 in 2016, ranked #2,532.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,316 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Starr surname distribution map

The map shows where the Starr surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Starr surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Starr over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 711 #3,671
1861 historical 650 #4,130
1881 historical 1,469 #2,842
1891 historical 1,543 #2,859
1901 historical 2,032 #2,634
1911 historical 2,316 #2,193
1997 modern 2,611 #2,434
1998 modern 2,681 #2,465
1999 modern 2,694 #2,470
2000 modern 2,642 #2,493
2001 modern 2,592 #2,492
2002 modern 2,658 #2,481
2003 modern 2,603 #2,480
2004 modern 2,599 #2,485
2005 modern 2,502 #2,539
2006 modern 2,479 #2,562
2007 modern 2,519 #2,549
2008 modern 2,579 #2,518
2009 modern 2,628 #2,530
2010 modern 2,697 #2,527
2011 modern 2,664 #2,523
2012 modern 2,652 #2,492
2013 modern 2,704 #2,493
2014 modern 2,709 #2,498
2015 modern 2,669 #2,520
2016 modern 2,635 #2,532

Geography

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Where Starrs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Caerphilly, Bristol, South Gloucestershire and Mendip. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 London parishes London 1
4 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Caerphilly 024 Caerphilly
2 Bristol 003 Bristol, City of
3 South Gloucestershire 011 South Gloucestershire
4 Mendip 007 Mendip
5 Bristol 005 Bristol, City of

Forenames

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First names often paired with Starr

These lists show first names that appear often with the Starr surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Starr

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Starr, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Starr surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Starr household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Starr is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Starr is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Starr falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Starr is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Starr, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Starr

The surname Starr has its origins in England and dates back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "steorra," meaning "star." The name may have been initially given as a nickname to someone who was particularly bright, shining, or radiant.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of land and property commissioned by William the Conqueror, there are several entries that include the name Starr or variations of it, such as Sterre and Starre. This suggests that the name was already established in various parts of England by the late 11th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Starr can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire from 1199, where a person named Ralph le Starr is mentioned. The use of the prefix "le" before the surname indicates that it was a descriptive name at that time.

The name Starr has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the most famous was John Starr, who lived from 1628 to 1670 and was an English Puritan minister and author. He was known for his influential writings on theology and his support for the Commonwealth during the English Civil War.

Another notable figure with the surname Starr was Jocelyn Starr, who lived from 1476 to 1538 and was an English courtier and Member of Parliament during the reign of Henry VIII. He served as the Keeper of the Privy Seal and was involved in various diplomatic missions.

In the 18th century, Thomas Starr (1728-1808) was a prominent English-born American mathematician and astronomer. He served as a professor at Harvard College and made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics.

The name Starr has also been associated with places and geographic features. For example, Starr County in Texas was named after James Harper Starr, an American soldier and politician who lived from 1809 to 1890 and served as the Secretary of the Treasury under President James K. Polk.

Other notable individuals with the surname Starr include Belle Starr (1848-1889), an American outlaw and horse thief who operated in the American Old West, and Edwin Starr (1942-2003), an American soul singer best known for his hit song "War."

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Starr families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Starr surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 259 Starrs recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.80x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 259 1.80x
Nottinghamshire 194 10.00x
Somerset 109 4.71x
Cambridgeshire 87 9.55x
Sussex 82 3.38x
Surrey 80 1.14x
Yorkshire 78 0.55x
Lancashire 61 0.36x
Gloucestershire 60 2.13x
Kent 60 1.22x
Essex 56 1.97x
Hertfordshire 45 4.54x
Worcestershire 43 2.29x
Norfolk 37 1.67x
Hampshire 36 1.22x
Wiltshire 26 2.04x
Glamorgan 20 0.80x
Leicestershire 17 1.07x
Cheshire 15 0.47x
Devon 15 0.50x
Lincolnshire 13 0.57x
Dorset 12 1.27x
Cumberland 11 0.89x
Staffordshire 8 0.16x
Durham 7 0.16x
Monmouthshire 7 0.67x
Buckinghamshire 6 0.69x
Bedfordshire 5 0.67x
Isle of Man 5 1.87x
Angus 3 0.23x
Royal Navy 3 1.75x
Shropshire 3 0.24x
Warwickshire 3 0.08x
Berkshire 2 0.19x
Northumberland 2 0.09x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.17x
Denbighshire 1 0.18x
Derbyshire 1 0.04x
Oxfordshire 1 0.11x
Suffolk 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 33 Starrs recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.37x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 33 2.37x
Kidderminster Borough 33 30.01x
Bulwell 30 71.16x
Frome 27 48.75x
Nottingham St Mary 27 5.38x
Enfield 26 27.54x
Bassingbourn 25 186.71x
Battersea 24 4.53x
Bethnal Green London 24 3.84x
Hucknall Torkard 23 46.77x
Manchester 19 2.47x
Romford 19 42.32x
St George Hanover 19 10.12x
Nunney 18 359.28x
Lambeth 17 1.36x
Westminster St 17 32.05x
Worle 17 356.39x
Gloucester Barton St 16 96.74x
Leicester St Margaret 15 3.86x
Nuthall 14 192.57x
Tonbridge 14 7.91x
Westminster St John 14 7.99x
Bristol St George 13 9.96x
St Pancras London 13 1.12x
Walcot 13 10.54x
Basingstoke 12 35.38x
Ickleton 12 366.97x
Sheffield 12 2.64x
Southampton St Mary 12 6.47x
Basford 11 12.31x
Bristol St Paul In 11 14.63x
Chelsea London 11 2.54x
Hove 11 10.33x
Little Eversden 11 1057.69x
Saffron Walden 11 36.65x
Ardingly 10 129.70x
Everton 10 1.84x
Exeter St Sidwell 10 14.58x
Hammersmith London 10 2.82x
Lewisham 10 3.82x
Newark Upon Trent 10 14.35x
St Marylebone London 10 1.30x
Sutton In Ashfield 10 23.76x
Ystradyfodwg 10 4.55x
Guilden Morden 9 185.57x
Hackney London 9 1.12x
Kensington London 9 1.13x
Westbourne 9 74.50x
Worksop 9 15.65x
Bingley 8 8.81x
Bristol St Michael 8 33.07x
Chrishall 8 282.69x
Croydon 8 2.06x
Hastings St Clement 8 35.04x
Hastings St Mary In The 8 15.46x
Hauxton 8 629.92x
Holy Trinity Cambridge 8 80.89x
Mortlake 8 25.60x
Radford 8 8.12x
Selston 8 36.93x
Shingay 8 1818.18x
St George Martyr 8 32.99x
Swansea Town 8 3.89x
Trowbridge 8 14.22x
Weston 8 167.36x
Wigan 8 3.35x
Beeston 7 31.42x
Blackburn 7 1.54x
Brighton 7 1.43x
Hedleyhope 7 94.47x
Kingston On Thames 7 4.16x
Mountfield 7 228.01x
North Collingham 7 153.17x
Norwich St Benedict 7 70.99x
Radford Lenton 7 144.93x
St Bartholomew Great 7 53.48x
Swindon 7 7.09x
Wolverhampton 7 1.87x
Chilwell 6 116.50x
Workington 6 8.46x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Starr surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 87
Sarah 56
Elizabeth 55
Ellen 30
Ann 29
Emily 28
Eliza 27
Jane 26
Alice 25
Emma 23
Annie 20
Edith 13
Florence 11
Amelia 10
Fanny 10
Hannah 10
Maria 9
Martha 9
Caroline 8
Kate 8
Louisa 8
Lucy 8
Ada 7
Charlotte 7
Clara 7
Margaret 7
Catherine 6
Frances 6
Harriet 6
Matilda 6
Dinah 5
Harriett 5
Lizzie 5
Lydia 5
Agnes 4
Ethel 4
Lily 4
Minnie 4
Rose 4
Amy 3
Anna 3
Anne 3
Betsy 3
Elizth. 3
Isabella 3
Janet 3
Julia 3
Rebecca 3
Sophia 3
Susan 3

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Starr surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 104
George 67
John 67
Henry 46
Charles 34
James 32
Thomas 31
Joseph 27
Frederick 19
Edward 17
Arthur 15
Richard 15
Albert 14
Walter 14
Frank 12
Samuel 12
Alfred 11
Harry 11
Robert 9
Benjamin 8
Stephen 8
Fred 6
Sidney 6
Ernest 5
Edwin 4
Fredrick 4
Herbert 4
Thos. 4
Wm. 4
Francis 3
Geo. 3
Jacob 3
Spencer 3
Tom 3
Willie 3
Allen 2
Barnard 2
Bernard 2
Chas. 2
David 2
Denis 2
E. 2
Isaac 2
Jesse 2
Jonas 2
Martin 2
Michael 2
Percy 2
Peter 2
Saml. 2

FAQ

Starr surname: questions and answers

How common was the Starr surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,469 people were recorded with the Starr surname. That placed it at #2,842 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Starr surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,635 in 2016. That gives Starr a modern rank of #2,532.

What does the Starr surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a person who worked as a asterisk maker, steward, or synagogue official.

What does the Starr map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Starr bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.