Show ContentsWeston History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Weston is one of the thousands of new names that the Norman Conquest brought to England in 1066. The Weston family lived in Staffordshire, at Weston-under-Lizard. The name literally means "dweller at the west farm," or "one who lived to the west of the village." [1]

"The English gazetteers give about fifty parishes and hamlets of this name, which signifies simply ' the western enclosure,' and corresponds with Easton, Norton, and Sutton. From divers of these, some of the families of Weston have sprung; but the widely-spread Westons of Surrey and Sussex are descended from the house of De Wistoneston, or Wiston, of Wiston, co. Sussex." [2]

Early Origins of the Weston family

The surname Weston was first found in Staffordshire where they held a family seat at Weston-under-Lizard, having been granted lands as a tenant in chief by William the Conqueror. Reginald Bailleul was from Bailleul-En-Gouffern at Orne, arrondisement of Argentan, in the canton of Trun, in Normandy. [3]

The parish of Kelvedon in Essex was once a family seat. "Felix Hall, the seat of Lord Western, a handsome modern mansion with an elegant portico, is situated on an eminence surrounded by a park." [4]

The Domesday Book of 1086 had two early entries for the family: Godwinus de Westuna in Huntingdonshire; and Adestan de Westuna in Cambridgeshire. [5]

Early rolls revealed the various spellings used throughout ancient Britain: Elyas de Westone in Lincolnshire c. 1160; Payn de Weston in the Assize Rolls for Somerset in 1268; William Weston in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1296; and Alan ate Weston in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1327. [1]

In Scotland, "there are places named Weston and Westoun in Lanarkshire, and a Weston near Dolphinston, Peeblesshire. William de Westone of Wyggetone rendered homage in 1296. John of Westone was juror on an inquisition at Peebles, 1304, and John de Westone held a ten-pound land in the tenement of Mertone near Edinburgh before 1315. William of Westone was in the king of England's service in France, 1369." [6]

Early History of the Weston family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Weston research. Another 180 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1140, 1200, 1466, 1511, 1515, 1536, 1540, 1542, 1566, 1567, 1573, 1577, 1582, 1605, 1609, 1611, 1612, 1620, 1628, 1634, 1635, 1639, 1640, 1652, 1656, 1660, 1663, 1665, 1678, 1681, 1688, 1689, 1698 and 1699 are included under the topic Early Weston History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Weston Spelling Variations

Multitudes of spelling variations are a hallmark of Anglo Norman names. Most of these names evolved in the 11th and 12th century, in the time after the Normans introduced their own Norman French language into a country where Old and Middle English had no spelling rules and the languages of the court were French and Latin. To make matters worse, medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, so names frequently appeared differently in the various documents in which they were recorded. The name was spelled Weston, Atgate and others.

Early Notables of the Weston family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

  • William Weston, a 15th-century English merchant from Bristol who is believed to have been the first Englishman to lead an expedition to North America
  • Sir Francis Weston (1511?-1536), was an English courtier, born about 1515, and the only son of Sir Richard Weston (1466?-1542.) Sir Francis was charged with high treason and adultery with the Queen An...
  • His father, Sir Richard was an English courtier and diplomatist, son of Edmund Weston, an adherent of Henry VII. Sir William Weston (d. 1540) was his brother. [7]
  • Edward Weston (1566-1635), was a Roman Catholic controversialist, son of William Weston of Lincoln College, Oxford. [7]
  • Elizabeth Jane Weston (1582-1612), was a learned lady, born in London on 2 Nov. 1582. "Her father may possibly have been a member of a Surrey family - at least Fuller places Elizabeth Weston among his...
  • Richard Weston, 1st Earl of Portland, KG (1577-1634), was Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lord Treasurer of England under James I and Charles I and Jerome Weston, 2nd Earl of Portland (1605-1663), was an...
  • Nicholas Weston (1611-1656), was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1640 and supported the Royalist side in the English Civil War; Charles Weston, 3rd Earl of Portland (1639-1665...

Weston World Ranking

In the United States, the name Weston is the 1,279th most popular surname with an estimated 24,870 people with that name. [8] However, in Australia, the name Weston is ranked the 462nd most popular surname with an estimated 8,246 people with that name. [9] And in New Zealand, the name Weston is the 561st popular surname with an estimated 1,261 people with that name. [10] The United Kingdom ranks Weston as 346th with 18,016 people. [11]

Ireland Migration of the Weston family to Ireland

Some of the Weston family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 32 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Weston migration to the United States +

Because of this political and religious unrest within English society, many people decided to immigrate to the colonies. Families left for Ireland, North America, and Australia in enormous numbers, traveling at high cost in extremely inhospitable conditions. The New World in particular was a desirable destination, but the long voyage caused many to arrive sick and starving. Those who made it, though, were welcomed by opportunities far greater than they had known at home in England. Many of these families went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Weston or a variant listed above:

Weston Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Thomas Weston, who settled in Maine in 1623 aboard the ship "George", he died in 1624
  • William Weston, aged 25, who settled in Virginia in 1620 aboard the ship "Jonathan"
  • Mr. William Weston, aged 30, who arrived in Virginia in 1634 aboard the ship "Bonaventure" coming via St. Domingo [12]
  • Sicillia Weston, aged 37, who landed in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Primrose" [13]
  • Mr. Edmond Weston, (b. 1605), aged 30, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Elizabeth and Anne" arriving in Massachusetts Bay (Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire) in 1635 [14]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Weston Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Eliza Weston, who arrived in Virginia in 1714 [13]
  • Lewis Weston, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1736-1737 [13]
  • Margaret Weston, who arrived in America in 1766 [13]
  • Ann Weston, aged 30, who arrived in Carolina in 1774 [13]
  • Samuel Weston, who landed in New York in 1789 [13]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Weston Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Rachael Weston, aged 20, who arrived in New York, NY in 1803 [13]
  • James Weston, who arrived in New York in 1823 [13]
  • Thomas Weston, who arrived in New York in 1834 [13]
  • Daniel Weston, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 [13]

Canada Weston migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Weston Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Andw Weston, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • Mr. Jason Weston U.E. who arrived at Port Roseway, [Shelburne], Nova Scotia on October 26, 1783 was passenger number 206 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on September 28, 1783 at Staten Island, New York, USA [15]
  • Mr. Southwick Weston U.E. who settled in Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1784 he was a part of the Cape Ann Association [15]
  • Mr. Thomas Weston U.E. who settled in Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1784 he was a part of the Cape Ann Association [15]
  • Mr. Ebenezer Weston U.E. who settled in Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1784 he was a part of the Cape Ann Association [15]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Weston Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Ellen Weston, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1835
  • Seth Weston, who arrived in Canada in 1841
  • Patrick Weston, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1843
  • Bridget Weston, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1843
  • Mr. William Thomas Weston, aged 1 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec but died on Grosse Isle on 19th June 1847 [16]

Australia Weston migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Weston Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century
Weston Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • John Weston, English convict from Kent, who was transported aboard the "Ann" on August 1809, settling in New South Wales, Australia [18]
  • Mr. John Weston, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Baring" in April 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [19]
  • Mr. Henry Weston, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Fanny" on 25th August 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [20]
  • Henry Weston, English convict from Surrey, who was transported aboard the "Albion" on May 17, 1823, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia [21]
  • Mr. Henry Weston, British Convict who was convicted in Leicester, Leicestershire, England for life , transported aboard the "Commodore Hayes" in April 1823, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) [22]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Weston migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Weston Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Samuel Weston, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1840
  • Mr Weston, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1841
  • Samuel Weston, aged 27, a farm labourer, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Gertrude" in 1841 [23]
  • Caroline Weston, aged 26, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Gertrude" in 1841 [23]
  • Phoebe Weston, aged 6, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Gertrude" in 1841 [23]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

West Indies Weston migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. [24]
Weston Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • Joe Weston, who settled in Barbados in 1635
  • Josias Weston, aged 25, who arrived in Barbados in 1635 [13]
  • Mr. John Weston, (b. 1609), aged 26, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Peter Bonaventure" arriving in Barbados and St Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635 [25]
  • Mr. John Weston, (b. 1594), aged 41, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Alexander" arriving in Barbados in 1635 [26]
  • Mr. Josias Weston, (b. 1610), aged 25, British settler travelling aboard the ship "Expedition" arriving in Barbados in 1636 [27]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Weston (post 1700) +

  • Willard Gordon Galen Weston OC CVO OOnt (1940-2021), English-born, Canadian billionaire businessman and Chairman Emeritus of George Weston Limited, ranked third wealthiest in Canada
  • Willard Galen Garfield Weston (b. 1972), Irish-born, Canadian Chairman, George Weston Ltd, Executive Chairman of Loblaw Companies Limited
  • Randy Weston (1926-2018), American jazz pianist and composer
  • Bob Weston, American musician
  • Edward Weston (1886-1958), American photographer
  • Edmund L. Weston, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from New York 35th District, 1932; Postmaster at Syracuse, New York, 1933-41 (acting, 1933-34) [28]
  • E. C. Weston, American politician, Member of Minnesota State House of Representatives 59th District, 1899-1900 [28]
  • David Weston, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Oklahoma, 2008 [28]
  • Daniel C. Weston, American politician, Postmaster at Augusta, Maine, 1843-44 [28]
  • Cole Weston, American politician, Representative from California 11th District, 1948 [28]
  • ... (Another 52 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Pan Am Flight 103 (Lockerbie)
  • Jerome Lee Weston (1943-1988), American Engineer from Baldwin, New York, America, who flew aboard the Pan Am Flight 103 from Frankfurt to Detroit, known as the Lockerbie bombing in 1988 and died [29]
Senghenydd colliery
  • Mr. Evan Weston (b. 1873), Welsh coal miner from Senghenydd, Caerphilly, Wales who was working at the Senghenydd colliery when there was an explosion on the 14th October 1913; he died


Suggested Readings for the name Weston +

  • Lower Richard Planters: Hopkins, Adams, Weston, and Related Families of South Carolina..

  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  4. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  5. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  6. 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)
  7. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  8. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  9. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  10. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  11. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  12. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  13. 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)
  14. Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's. Retrieved 24th September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  15. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  16. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 60)
  17. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barwell
  18. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Ann voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1809 with 200 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/ann/1809
  19. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
  20. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
  21. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Albion voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1823 with 200 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/albion/1823
  22. Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th March 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/commodore-hayes
  23. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 12th December 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  24. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  25. Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's. Retrieved 23rd September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  26. Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's retrieved 28th September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  27. Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's retrieved 29th September 2021. Retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  28. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 17) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  29. Pan Am Flight 103's victims: A list of those killed 25 years ago | syracuse.com. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2013/12/pan_am_flight_103s_victims_a_list_of_those_killed_25_years_ago.html


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