Show ContentsHairston History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Hairston family

The surname Hairston was first found in Dumfriesshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Dhùn Phris), a Southern area, bordering on England that today forms part of the Dumfries and Galloway Council Area, where they held a family seat in both Dumfries and south of the border in Cumberland where the name was more commonly spelled Harstan or Harston.

One of the first records of the family was Halbert Haistanis who signed the Band of Dumfries in 1570. James Hairstanis was a witness there in 1576. John Hairstanis, senior, was burgess of Dumfries and retoured heir of Matthew Hairstanis of Craigs in the lands of Kirkmahoe and in the 10 mark lands of Grange in the parish of Ur in 1629. 1

Early History of the Hairston family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hairston research. Another 94 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1570 and 1686 are included under the topic Early Hairston History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hairston Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Hairstanis, Hairston, Harstans, Harstens, Hairstanes, Harston, Harsten, Harstan, Harstons and many more.

Early Notables of the Hairston family

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

Hairston Ranking

In the United States, the name Hairston is the 1,406th most popular surname with an estimated 22,383 people with that name. 2


United States Hairston migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Hairston Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Peter Hairston, who landed in Virginia in 1747 3
Hairston Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Anna M. Hairston, who landed in America, in 1906
  • Leonard Hairston, aged 24, who settled in America, in 1924

Contemporary Notables of the name Hairston (post 1700) +

  • Marc R Hairston, American Research Scientist at the William B. Hanson Center for Space Sciences of The University of Texas at Dallas
  • Jerry Hairston Jr. (b. 1976), American Major League Baseball player for the Cincinnati Reds
  • Jerry Hairston Sr. (b. 1952), American retired Major League Baseball player
  • William R Hairston, American public administrator, author, producer, and theater manager
  • Nelson George Hairston, American animal ecologist
  • Jester Hairston (1901-2000), American composer, songwriter, arranger, choral conductor, and actor
  • Robert H. Hairston, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly from Suffolk County 2nd District, 1933; Chair of Suffolk County Democratic Party, 1942 4
  • Nannie M. Hairston, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Virginia, 1980 4
  • Krystal Monique Hairston, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Tennessee, 2004 4
  • John M. Hairston (b. 1964), American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Mississippi, 2004 4
  • ... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


The Hairston Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Toujours fidele
Motto Translation: Always faithful.


  1. 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)
  2. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  3. 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)
  4. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 7) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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