Origin of Easterly Name
Hi Cousins!
Just in case there are some out there who have not seen the letter listed below, I am posting it for general information. I think it is rather nice to know that our background goes back a long way.
Frank
Origin of the Easterly Name
According to available records, the Easterly, Esterly and esterling families derived from the same source; from the town known as L'Estre, one of the Flemish Hanse Towns.
The earliest mention is of William de Sterling who was one of the twelve knights who came to Flanders during the time of William, the first, 1066-1087, and joined the forces with Robert Fitz Hammon, Earl of Gloucestor, in the aid ofJustin-ap-Gwrgant, King ofGlamorgan.
Adescendant, John Easterly, was created a baronet in England in the year 1611.
This ancient family consisted of enterprising traders and it is interesting to note that it is to them that England owes the significance of the term "Sterling".The family coined and used its own money which was called first"Payment in Esterling" and finally"Sterling".Thus so many pounds Sterling is the ordinary phrase for true and good coin to this day.As an adjective in our English language it characterizes worth, quality and character.
The orignal industry of the family was that of Flemish weavings.It would seem that the families bearing the name Easterly or Esterly migrated to this country via England.
There are , however, families in this country who have maintained the Flemish and Austrian spelling butin any case the soubriquet belongs to "men out of the East".
Source:English Sur-names
Burke'sGeneral ArmoryC. W. Beardsley
Guide to Heraldry, A. C. Fox-Davies
The Norman People
H. S. King& Co.
London