Extract taken from "Norfolk Families" by W Rye R. 929.2
STARLING
There is little doubt that this name is a varient of Le Esterling.
One of the earliest Starling’s is a William Starling of Hunstanton, Norfolk who brought land there in 1332.
The name has long been in Norwich (ia)
Robert Starling, a carpenter was admitted a freeman in 1560.
Richard Starling a carpenter in 1634 and his son Richard Starling in 1653.
Thomas Starling, a painter in 1667 and his son Christopher Starling in 1712.
(2) was probably the Richard Starling born in 1631 and died in 1723. He was buried with "arms Az. a cross patee between four estoiles or" in St Peter Mancroft churchyard and was the father of Richard Starling, attorney at law born in 1645 and died in 1690.
Another Richard Starling a carpenter born in 1672, died in 1729 was the builder of Bethel Hospital.
Thomas Starling was Sherriff of Norwich in 1762 and mayor in 1767.
Another family were of Deeham and the villages near by. (see Cathews Laudith I pp 193, 245)
John Sterling in 1402 held a knight fee in Searning under a Sir Edward Hastings.
Robert Sterling of East dereham bought land in Hoo in 1607. By his wife Alice he was the father of
(a) Edmund Sterling of East dereham, a tanner (who by Annie Barret, widow of Wenn of Scarning, had issue)
(b) Robert Sterling of East Dereham, yeoman by his wife Alice had
John Sterling, will dated 1624 father of
John Sterling who was of age in 1631 and is probably the
John Sterling of East dereham, gent, 1676 will dated 1687 (for decendents see Cathew ii p718). The last John had (ia) ad Ruth who married Thomas Day of Norwich who by her was father of Mr Starling Day, born 1735 who was Mayor of Norwich from 1782 – 1812 (see ante p156 sub Day).
From the same family I have little doubt came John Parlett Sterling, brother of Matthew Sterling of Cowston whose daughter Anne received the Dillington property under the will of Ann Sterling, daughter of Robert Sterling of the Litcham family.
Dr Hubert John Starling of All Saints Green, Norwich traces his pedigree back to :
Robert Starling, who by his wife Elizabeth Kearsley (daught of Jame Kearsley by Sarah Barnes, daughter of John Barnes by his wife Mary Widmerpoole (for details of this family see the NFHS Ancestor) has issue (ia)
Matthew James Starling who by Anne Tappenden had
Matthew Henry Starling who by Ellen Matilda Watkins had
(a) Ernest Henry Starling who married Florence Amelia Wooldridge
(b) Bernard Ambrose Starling who married Margaret Halton
(c) Hubert John Starling as above
Other sons of Robert Starling (1) were
Thomas Starling, who by his second wwife Ellen Smart had Robert Starling and George Starling
James Kearsley Starling who had issue by his wife Elizabeth Luke
Parlett Starling who by Anne Phythian Tuck had Edmund, Henry, Fredrick and Walter.
Copyright 1997, 1998, 1999 by Paul Starling