Show ContentsReston History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Reston family

The surname Reston was first found in Lincolnshire at either North or South Reston. Both parishes are in the union of Louth, Marsh division of the hundred of Louth-Eske. 1

Alternatively, the name could have originated at Long Riston in the East Riding of Yorkshire or at Ristson with Brompton in Shropshire.

Some of the first records of the family were found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273: Ralph de Riston, Lincolnshire; and Gomer de Riston, Norfolk. 2 There is also a Ryston, in Norfolk in the union of Downham, hundred of Clackclose. 1

If the family is Scottish in origin, they hail from "Reston in the parish of Coldingham, Berwickshire where Adam de Rystona was witness to a quitclaim of the land of Swinton by Patrick, first Earl of Dunbar, and Roger de Reston witnessed a deed by Waldeve, Earl of Dunber, in 1166. Oliver de Rystone of the county of Berewyke rendered homage in 1296 [to King Edward I of England]. The name is early found in Glasgow. John de Restoun was burgess of the city in 1417." 3

Early History of the Reston family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Reston research. Another 88 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1440, 1442, 1450, 1478, 1603, 1634 and 1711 are included under the topic Early Reston History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Reston Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Reston, Restoun and others.

Early Notables of the Reston family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was

  • Reston of Berwick


United States Reston migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Reston Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Jon Reston, who arrived in Virginia in 1633 4
  • John Reston, who settled in Virginia in 1637
  • William Reston, who settled in Virginia in 1654
  • James Reston, who landed in New Jersey in 1685 4
  • James Reston was banished to New Jersey in 1685
Reston Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Thomas C Reston, who landed in North Carolina in 1811 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Reston (post 1700) +

  • James Reston Jr (1941-2023), American author and journalist and playwright of four plays, son of Scotty Reston
  • James Barrett "Scotty" Reston (1909-1995), American journalist who was associated for many years with The New York Times
  • Arloa Reston (b. 1978), American actress from Cheyenne, Wyoming
  • Thelma Reston (1937-2012), Brazilian actress
  • Agnes Reston (1771-1856), Scottish wartime nurse during the Peninsular War, known as the Heroine of Matagorda, for her outstanding bravery in an early phase of the Siege of Cádiz


  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  4. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)


Houseofnames.com on Facebook