By Jack Story & Geoff Storey
The ancient forms of what are now settled into Story, Storey and Storie demonstrate the antiquity of the family. Such variants
include Le Ster, Le Stor and Le Stur; Then later are found Stere, Sterre, Sterrie, Stir, Stirrie, Stiry, Stirry, Stoery, Stora,
Storrha, Storar, Storaur, Store, Storee, Storer, Stori, Storier, Storius, and Styr. By far, the most common forms have settled
into the three mentioned previously, that of Story, Storey and Storie.
Early examples of the various spellings include:
Alan le Storeys 1272, Ricus Stury or Storey 1350, Johannes Storey, Rector of Richmondshire 1429, John Story 1476,
Nicholas Storie of Liddlesdale 1590, Thomas Story of Wall 1666, Dr Edward Storey or Story 1464.
In England, the Storey spelling seems to be more prominent with the Story and Storie spellings a little less so; however, in
America, the reverse is true. The Story spelling is more common, followed by Storey and Storie respectively.
One reason for the various spellings dates back to the period between 1200 -1600, when life on the lawless border region
between England and Scotland, necessitated measures to elude ones' enemies, or even enforcers of the law. To change
the spelling of ones’ name was a popular way to accomplish this goal.
Regardless of the variant spellings, the student of family history knows that all who bear the STORY, STOREY, and
STORIE surnames, share a common, historic and distinguished heritage. |
