Show ContentsChastine History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Chastine is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from when the family lived in Caston, a small village in the county of Norfolk. The surname was originally seen in the Old English form Cattstun, and was also an occupational name for a person who kept watch over a feudal castle.

Early Origins of the Chastine family

The surname Chastine was first found in Cambridgeshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. After the Battle of Hastings in 1066, William, Duke of Normandy, having prevailed over King Harold, granted most of Britain to his many victorious Barons. It was not uncommon to find a Baron, or a Bishop, with 60 or more Lordships scattered throughout the country. These he gave to his sons, nephews and other junior lines of his family and they became known as under-tenants. They adopted the Norman system of surnames which identified the under-tenant with his holdings so as to distinguish him from the senior stem of the family. After many rebellious wars between his Barons, Duke William, commissioned a census of all England to determine in 1086, settling once and for all, who held which land. He called the census the Domesday Book, 1 indicating that those holders registered would hold the land until the end of time. Hence, Causton in 1086 was held by Hardwin of Scales, a Norman Baron, and, conjecturally, the ancient ancestor of this surname. The village is on Roman Ermine Street, as in Turdor times became a coaching village.

Early History of the Chastine family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Chastine research. Another 183 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1279, 1327, 1335 and 1500 are included under the topic Early Chastine History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Chastine Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Chastine are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Chastine include: Chaston, Chasten, Chasteyn, Chauston, Causton, Chastonne, Chastone, Chastenne, Chastein and many more.

Early Notables of the Chastine family

More information is included under the topic Early Chastine Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Chastine family

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Chastine or a variant listed above: Nic. Michel Chassin, who arrived in Illinois sometime between 1717 and 1719; Philipp Chassin, who settled in America in 1838; G. R. Chas, who arrived in San Francisco in 1851.


Contemporary Notables of the name Chastine (post 1700) +

  • J. C. Chastine, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Missouri, 1900 2


  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  2. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 8) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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