UK surname
A surname derived from the Slavic word "stary" meaning "old" or "elder".
In the 1881 census there were 9 people recorded with the Stary surname, ranking it #32,416 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 26, ranked #36,254, down from #32,416 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Cheshunt St Mary, Stockport and Farndon. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Stary is 160 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 188.9%.
1881 census count
9
Ranked #32,416
Modern count
26
2016, ranked #36,254
Peak year
1861
160 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Stary surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Stary surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 36 | #26,838 |
| 1861 | historical | 160 | #14,468 |
| 1881 | historical | 9 | #32,416 |
| 1891 | historical | 72 | #27,804 |
| 1901 | historical | 9 | #33,154 |
| 1911 | historical | 24 | #30,800 |
| 1997 | modern | 19 | #35,928 |
| 1998 | modern | 18 | #36,135 |
| 1999 | modern | 23 | #35,612 |
| 2000 | modern | 22 | #35,684 |
| 2001 | modern | 22 | #35,531 |
| 2002 | modern | 17 | #36,164 |
| 2003 | modern | 19 | #36,011 |
| 2004 | modern | 20 | #36,053 |
| 2005 | modern | 22 | #35,993 |
| 2006 | modern | 18 | #36,412 |
| 2007 | modern | 19 | #36,450 |
| 2008 | modern | 22 | #36,281 |
| 2009 | modern | 25 | #36,191 |
| 2010 | modern | 27 | #36,153 |
| 2011 | modern | 26 | #36,193 |
| 2012 | modern | 24 | #36,288 |
| 2013 | modern | 29 | #36,040 |
| 2014 | modern | 26 | #36,244 |
| 2015 | modern | 25 | #36,297 |
| 2016 | modern | 26 | #36,254 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Cheshunt St Mary, Stockport, Farndon, St Pancras and St John Hackney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cheshunt St Mary | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| 2 | Stockport | Cheshire |
| 3 | Farndon | Nottinghamshire |
| 4 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | St John Hackney | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Stary surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Stary, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Stary surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Stary household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Stary is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Stary is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Stary, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Stary originates from Poland, dating back to the early medieval period. It is derived from the Polish word "stary," which means "old" or "ancient." This name was likely given to someone who lived in an old settlement or was considered an elder within their community.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Stary surname can be found in the Liber Beneficiorum, a 15th-century document listing Polish nobility and their landholdings. This suggests that the name was already well-established among the Polish gentry by that time.
In the 16th century, the Stary name appeared in various historical records, such as the Akta Grodzkie, which were court records from the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. One notable bearer of this name was Jan Stary (c. 1520-1589), a Polish nobleman and military commander who fought against the Teutonic Knights.
During the 17th century, the name Stary was sometimes spelled differently, such as "Stari" or "Starzy," reflecting regional variations in pronunciation and spelling. A notable figure from this period was Stanisław Stary (1587-1656), a Polish Catholic priest and theologian who served as the Bishop of Przemyśl.
In the 18th century, the Stary surname was found in various Polish regions, including Mazovia, Greater Poland, and Lesser Poland. One example is Franciszek Stary (1714-1792), a Polish painter and architect who worked in the Late Baroque and Rococo styles.
The 19th century saw the Stary name spread further across Europe, with bearers of this surname migrating to other countries. One noteworthy individual was Ludwik Stary (1820-1890), a Polish-Austrian painter who specialized in landscapes and genre scenes.
Throughout history, the Stary surname has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including nobility, clergy, artists, and military figures. While the name originated in Poland, it has since been carried across borders and continues to be a part of the rich tapestry of Polish heritage.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Stary surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Nottinghamshire leads with 4 Starys recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.87x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Nottinghamshire | 4 | 33.87x |
| Durham | 3 | 11.51x |
| Kent | 1 | 3.34x |
| Norfolk | 1 | 7.42x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Worksop in Nottinghamshire leads with 4 Starys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1142.86x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Worksop | 4 | 1142.86x |
| Coundon | 3 | 2727.27x |
| West Beckham | 1 | 10000.00x |
| Woolwich | 1 | 90.91x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Stary surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Stary surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Stary households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Master Tailor Employing 3 Men | 1 |
| Nurse ... | 1 |
| Quarry Laborer | 1 |
| Quarry Laborer Wife | 1 |
| Scholar | 1 |
| Scholer | 1 |
| Tailors Apprentice | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 9 people were recorded with the Stary surname. That placed it at #32,416 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 26 in 2016. That gives Stary a modern rank of #36,254.
A surname derived from the Slavic word "stary" meaning "old" or "elder".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Stary bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.