Burston History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

In ancient Anglo-Saxon England, the ancestors of the Burston surname lived in Staffordshire, where they took their name from Burston. The place name literally meant "farmstead of a man called Burgwine or Burgwulf," from the Old English personal name + "tun." 1

Early Origins of the Burston family

The surname Burston was first found in Staffordshire at Burston which dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 when it was first listed as Burouestone. 2 However, there are other villages and parishes named Burston throughout Britain including: Burston, Buckinghamshire, a small hamlet near Rowsham; Burston, Norfolk, a village near Diss; Burston and Shimpling, small villages in Norfolk; and Aston, with Burston and Stoke, a parish in Staffordshire.

The frequency of the villages is due to the aforementioned personal name. As far as the surname, some of the early records include: Godric filius Burstan, listed in Huntingdonshire in the 12th century and Nicholas de Burgeston who was listed in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1199. 3

Early History of the Burston family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Burston research. Another 45 words (3 lines of text) covering the years 1230, 1275 and 1685 are included under the topic Early Burston History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Burston 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 Burston 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. The variations of the name Burston include: Burston, Burstan, Burgeston, Burstone and others.

Early Notables of the Burston family

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

Burston migration to Australia +

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

Burston Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

David Burston, aged 29, who arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship "Medina" 4
Mr. William Burston, English convict who was convicted in Taunton, Somerset, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Edwin Fox" on 24th August 1858, arriving in Western Australia, Australia

Contemporary Notables of the name Burston (post 1700) +

B. Elliott Burston, American politician from Manhattan, New York, Member of New York State Assembly from New York County 23rd District, 1919
Sir Samuel Gerald Wood "Sam" Burston OBE (1915-2015), Australian grazier and politician, member of the board of the Reserve Bank of Australia and the Australian Science and Technology Council, eldest son of Sir Samuel Roy Burston
Major-General Sir Samuel Roy Burston (1888-1960), Australian Director-General of Medical Services Australian Military Forces from 1942 to 1948 5

Citations +

Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
South Australian Register Tuesday 3 February 1852. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) MEDINA 1852. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/medina1852.shtml
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, August 30) Samuel Burston. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Burston/Sir_Samuel_Roy/Australia.html