The earliest known definite Sterry family line was established in the Forest of Dean area in Gloucestershire, UK by the early 16th century and by the early 17th century had spread to the Surrey area of London. An apparently unrelated Sterry family was established in the Lowestoft area of Suffolk, UK also by the early 17th century. By the latter part of the 17th century Sterrys were firmly established in the Connecticut area of America. By the mid nineteenth century Sterrys had spread to Australia and Canada.

In the 1841 census for the UK there were 332 Sterrys. The clear majority (144) lived in Gloucestershire, followed by Suffolk and Surrey. By 1881 census there were 557 Sterrys in the UK. The clear majority still came form Gloucestershire and Suffolk. Sterrys migrated very early to America and establised Sterry families there by the latter part of the 17th century. In the 1880 US Census there were 206 Sterrys. The clear majority still resided in Connecticut, close to where they started.

UK Name Distribution Map by County of Residence (Sterry, Sterrey)

US Name Distribution Map by State of Residence (Sterry, Sterrey, Sterey, Stery, Stirry, Sterrie)