What is the origin for the Holy Mother Mary's title "Star of the Sea?"?

Question

i know why, and agree to Mary's many many given titles, just curious as to the story, tale, or background to the title "Star of the Sea." there is a branch of churches named after this title so there has to be an origin of this name. thanks and God bless.

Answer 1

Hail, You Star of Ocean
Hail, you Star of Ocean!
Portal of the sky,
Ever Virgin Mother,
Of the Lord most high.

O! by Gabriel's Ave,
Uttered long ago,
Eva's name reversing,
Establish peace below.

Break the captive's fetters;
Light on blindness pour;
All our ills expelling,
Ev'ry bliss implore.

Show yourself a mother;
Offer him our sighs,
Who for us Incarnate
Did not you despise.

Virgin of all virgins!
To your shelter take us;
Gentlest of the gentle!
Chaste and gentle make us.

Still as on we journey,
Help our weak endeavor,
Till with you and Jesus
We rejoice forever.

Through the highest heaven,
To the Almighty Three,
Father, Son, and Spirit,
One same glory be.

The Latin version of this prayer, Ave, Maris stella, can be traced to the late eighth/early ninth century. The title, Star of the Sea (or Ocean), is one of the oldest and most widely spread titles for Mary. The prayer is often used to pray for travelers. Mary herself is a sign of hope for a safe arrival to one's destination.

Answer 2

I'm not sure but I'll give it a try.
Sea is mare in Latin and star is stella so star of the sea is "Stella Maris" so it's similar to the name Maria (seas in Latin). Still there's a quotation from the OT that is used in regard to the sorrowful mother: great as the sea is your destruction. The sea was seen as a symbol for the evil powers in OT thinking.
St Bernard wrote a poem to Mary where he compares Mary to a star and our "faith-journey" as a stormy sea; for consolation and guidance, just as mariners looked to the stars to know where they were, to the port (heaven) we need to look to her who has completed her journey so faithfully and who wants to help us so much to reach her Son.
It's a beautiful poem.
And I know that mariners in Poland still have a great devotion to Mary under the title of "Star of the Sea".
Hope this helps a bit.

Answer 3

This should help: http://www.udayton.edu/mary/questions/yq/yq17.html . God bless!

Answer 4

this is all i could find on the topic

http://www.udayton.edu/mary/questions/yq/yq17.html

i have no clue how correct it is, but it may help.