"The Astor family, John Jacob Astor and his wife Sarah Todd (who came to the United States from Walldorf, Germany), became the wealthiest family in the United States during the 19th century. Towards the end of that century, a branch moved to England and achieved great prominence there. As the 20th century wore on the family fortunes declined, but their legacy lives on in their many public works including the New York Public Library, and members of the British branch hold two hereditary peerages, a viscountcy and a barony. John Jacob Astor's brother also emigrated to America. Henry Astor, a horse racing enthusiast, purchased a thoroughbred named Messenger who had been brought from England in 1788. The horse became the founding sire of all Standardbred horses in the United States today. Beyond the famous Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, the Astor family name is imprinted in a great deal of United States history and geography. There is a town of Astor in the states of Florida, Georgia, Iowa, and Kansas and there are Astorias in Illinois, Missouri, New York, and Oregon. There is an Astor Park in Florida and an Astor Court and Astor Place in New York City, Chicago and a large number of town and city thoroughfares bearing the family name. A number of Astor family members are buried in Trinity Church Cemetery in Manhattan, New York. [edit] Relatives Listed By Ancestry/Generation: John Jacob Astor (1763-1848), married Sarah Todd Magdalen Astor (1788-1832) - John Bristed (1778-1855) Charles Astor Bristed (1820-1874) John Jacob Astor II (1791-1869) William Backhouse Astor, Sr. (1792-1875) Emily Astor (1819-1841), married Samuel Ward Jr (1814-1884), financier, lobbyist, author. Margaret Astor Ward (1838-1875), married 1856 John Winthrop Chanler (1826-1877), New York Congressman Lewis Stuyvesant Chanler, New York Congressman Robert Winthrop Chanler, artist John Jacob Astor III (1822-1890) 1st son of William William Waldorf Astor, 1st Viscount Astor (1848-1919) William Waldorf Astor, 2nd Viscount Astor (1879-1952) William Waldorf Astor, 3rd Viscount Astor (1907-1966) William Astor, 4th Viscount Astor (born 1951) (from 1st marriage) Emily Astor (from 2nd marriage) Janet Elizabeth Astor (born 1961) (from 3rd marriage) Pauline Marian Astor (from 3rd marriage) Nancy Phyllis Louise Astor (1909-1975) Francis David Langhorne Astor (1912-2001) Michael Langhorne Astor (1916-1980) John Jacob Astor (born 1918) Pauline Astor (1880-1972) John Rudolph Astor (1881-1881) John Jacob Astor, 1st Baron Astor of Hever (1886-1971) Gavin Astor, 2nd Baron Astor of Hever (1918-1984) John Jacob Astor, 3rd Baron Astor of Hever (born 1946) Hugh Waldorf Astor (1920-1999) John Astor MP (1923–1987) William Backhouse Astor, Jr. (1830-1892) 2nd son of William John Jacob Astor IV (1864-1912) William Vincent Astor (1891-1959) son by 1st wife John Jacob Astor VI (1912-1992) son by 2nd wife William Backhouse Astor III (born 1935) Dieter Astor, city architect of Walldorf, Germany [edit] Spouses Elizabeth, Baroness Astor of Hever (born 1950) - 2nd wife of John Jacob Astor, 3rd Baron Astor of Hever Brooke Russell Marshall Astor (born 1902) Irene Astor, Baroness Astor of Hever (1919-2001) - daughter of Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig and widow of Gavin Astor, 2nd Baron Astor of Hever Caroline Webster Schermerhorn Astor (1830-1908) - widow of William Backhouse Astor Jr Ava Lowle Willing - 1st wife of John Jacob Astor IV Madeleine Talmadge Force (1894-1940) - 2nd wife of John Jacob Astor IV Nancy, Lady Astor (1879-1964) - widow of William Waldorf Astor, 2nd Viscount Astor Sarah Norton - 1st wife of William Waldorf Astor, 3rd Viscount Astor Philippa Hunloke - 2nd wife of William Waldorf Astor, 3rd Viscount Astor Bronwen Pugh - 3rd wife and widow of William Waldorf Astor, 3rd Viscount Astor Annabel Sheffield - wife of William Waldorf Astor, 4th Viscount Astor Barbara McNeil - 1st wife of Michael Langhorne Astor Pandora Jones - 2nd wife of Michael Langhorne Astor Judy Innes - 3rd wife and widow of Michael Langhorne Astor" source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astor_family