The Story surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 19,218 people carried this name — #1,867 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 15,300 people counted. That is up 1% from 18,935 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Story surname

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley explains it as ‘the son of Storr’.

An early record he cites: Thomas Storre, 1379 — Poll Tax, West Riding of Yorkshire.

His entry covers Storey, Story, Storry, Storie, Storrie and Storrey.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 721 · public domain.

In Poland’s population register

241 people named Story have a registered home in Poland.

Of the 264 in Poland’s national register, these are the ones with a permanent address on file. They live in 13 of Poland’s 16 voivodeships, most of all in Subcarpathian.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Where they live today

Subcarpathian 99
Lublin 29
Lower Silesian 25
Warmian-Masurian 19
Lesser Poland 14
Silesian 13
Lubusz 11
Podlaskie 10

PESEL register, Ministry of Digital Affairs of Poland (dane.gov.pl) — CC0 · living people by voivodeship of permanent residence, 20 January 2026.

In Belgium’s population register

At least 23 people named Story live in Belgium.

Statbel only publishes a name in a municipality when five or more people there share it, so the real number is higher. Most of them live in East Flanders.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

East Flanders 16
Flemish Brabant 7

Statbel (Statistics Belgium), family names of the population by municipality, 1 January 2026 — CC BY 4.0.

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Story was found among the farmers of 6 counties.

It was most frequent in Durham: 48 in every 10,000 farmers there — about 1 in 208. Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent. His list gives one count for the spellings Storey and Story.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Durham 48
Northumberland 44
Yorkshire, North and East Ridings 18
Cumberland and Westmorland 15
Norfolk 10
Lincolnshire 8

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

128 families named Story, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 757 people lived in those households, 5.9 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 4 other spellings. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

Massachusetts 24
Pennsylvania 18
Connecticut 15
North Carolina 14
New York 13
Vermont 12
Maryland 10
New Hampshire 9
South Carolina 8
Maine 4
Virginia 1

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 264 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Story in American newspapers,
1876–1926.

Newspaper page from Bozeman Avant Courier carrying the name Story
Bozeman Avant Courier 1876-08-11
Newspaper page from The Helena Independent carrying the name Story
The Helena Independent 1894-11-15
Newspaper page from The Kevin Review carrying the name Story
The Kevin Review 1926-03-25

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 7,010 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Story in Australian newspapers,
1820s–2010s.

52,901 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Story. The most, 9,039, date from the 1920s. Queensland has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in the Northern Territory, at 2.4 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

Queensland 18,885
New South Wales 10,033
Victoria 9,950
South Australia 8,276
Western Australia 2,789
Tasmania 2,321
ACT (Canberra) 333
Northern Territory 170

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Story.

Who carried it

People named Story,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Lydia Sophia Story
    Lydia Sophia Story d. 1876
  • Thomas Story d. 1937 · merchant
  • Joseph Story d. 1767
  • Beverley Marie Story d. 1987
  • Vida Hope Carmichael Story d. 1926
  • Eliza Story d. 1727

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Story,
in the records of 9 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States1,703 records

1,703 records of the Story name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 734
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 340
  • Other U.S. records 629
  1. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Luther H. Story

    Born 1931; from Sumter County, Georgia. U.S. Army, light weapons infantryman; killed in action 1950 in South Korea. Buried at Andersonville National Cemetery, Georgia.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record John T. Story

    Born 1921 in Missouri. Enlisted 1942 at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia; textile mill worker. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1989, buried at Memphis National Cemetery, Tennessee.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record John Story

    Arrived at Boston in 1849 aboard the Milton from Liverpool, aged 30; laborer. From Cavan, Ireland; bound for Boston.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 1,703 records for Story in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia414 records

414 records of the Story name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 158
  • Tasmanian Names Index 126
  • Other Australian records 130
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Robert Story

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Henry Porcher, sailing from London in 1836. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1842.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Ann Story

    Died 1881 in Launceston, Tasmania, aged 91. Will registered in Tasmania in 1881.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Joseph William Story

    Died 1864 in Hobart, Tasmania, aged 83. Will registered in Tasmania in 1864.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 414 records for Story in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

Netherlands97 records

97 records of the Story name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 47
  • Dutch population registers 36
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 14
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Cornelis Story

    Born 1913 in Utrecht. Married in 1942 in Utrecht.

    Open Archives, Het Utrechts Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Anthonia Elisabeth Story

    Born 1868 in Utrecht. Died 1939 in Voorburg, aged 70.

    Open Archives, Het Utrechts Archief (CC BY 4.0); Open Archives, Haags Gemeentearchief (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Maria Story

    Born 1914 in 's-Gravenhage. Married in 1935 in 's-Gravenhage.

    Open Archives, Haags Gemeentearchief (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 97 records for Story in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

Canada96 records

96 records of the Story name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 65
  • City of Calgary cemetery records 11
  • Other Canadian records 20
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Joseph Story

    Came to Ontario in 1871 aboard the Scan, landing at Quebec, bound for Seaforth, Ontario; English.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Jennie M. Story

    Buried in 1918 at Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, Nova Scotia, aged 51.

    Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax.
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Robert Story

    Died 1932 in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.

Showing 3 of 96 records for Story in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

Belgium59 records

59 records of the Story name in Belgium Belgian civil registers (births, marriages, deaths)
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Maria Story

    Died 1939 in Gent.

    Open Archives, Archief Gent (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Paula Story

    Died 1905 in Gent.

    Open Archives, Archief Gent (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Joseph Story

    Died 1969 in Gent.

    Open Archives, Archief Gent (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 59 records for Story in Belgium.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

United Kingdom8 records

8 records of the Story name in the United Kingdom
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 4
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 3
  • Welsh wills index cards 1
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record John Story

    Buried in 1826 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 22.

    MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Sarah Story

    Will proved in 1936; of St Asaph, St Asaph.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record N. H. Story

    Rifle Brigade. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 8 records for Story in the United Kingdom.

Counts: MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

New Zealand6 records

6 records of the Story name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 4
  • Marlborough District cemetery records 2
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Amy Marina Story

    Died 1932, aged 56; buried at Bromley Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Vera Mary Story

    Died 2000, aged 87; buried at Fairhall Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 2 of 6 records for Story in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

France5 records

5 records of the Story name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Suzanne Simone Story

    Born 1911 in Saint-André-lez-Lille (Nord); died 1985 in Compiègne (Oise).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Aulrey Laiyton Story

    Born 1908 in Paris; died 1990 in Saint-Jean-Saint-Maurice-sur-Loire (Loire).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 2 of 5 records for Story in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Germany5 records

5 records of the Story name in Germany Germany's First World War casualty lists, 1914–1919
  1. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Vinzent Story

    From Witkowo, Witkowo. Reported dead in the Prussian casualty list of 30 June 1915 (Infantry Regiment No. 143).

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)
  2. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Jakob Story

    From Mechtersheim, Pfalz. Reported missing in the Bavarian casualty list of 26 November 1914 (Infantry Regiment No. 23).

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)

Showing 2 of 5 records for Story in Germany.

Counts: Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Deutsche Verlustlisten, Prussian list 1116, 18 April 1918 (scan via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0).

Other spellings of this name

The same name, spelled another way.

Spellings that H. B. Guppy (England and Wales, 1890) or the Registrar-General for Ireland (births index of 1890) counted as one name together with Story.

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Story.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Story is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

See the Story volume
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