Show ContentsKidston History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Kidston is tied to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It comes from "Kit," a diminutive of the name Christopher. After the Norman Conquest of 1066, Old English personal names declined in popularity to be replaced by the new Christian names that they brought with them. One of these was Christopher.

Early Origins of the Kidston family

The surname Kidston was first found in Yorkshire, where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Kidston family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kidston research. Another 90 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1270, 1359 and 1520 are included under the topic Early Kidston History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kidston Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Kitson, Kidson, Kydson, MacKett, MacCeit and others.

Early Notables of the Kidston family

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

Ireland Migration of the Kidston family to Ireland

Some of the Kidston family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Kidston family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Marmaduke Kitson, who settled in Virginia in 1639; along Merma; Mary Kitson, who settled in Virginia in 1768; as well as George, James, Nathan and Thomas Kitson, who all arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860..


Contemporary Notables of the name Kidston (post 1700) +

  • Brian C. Kidston, American Republican politician, Candidate for Michigan State House of Representatives 37th District, 1974, 1976 1
  • Robert Kidston (1852-1924), Scottish palaeobotanist, won the Murchison Medal of the Geological Society of London in 1916
  • William Kidston (1849-1919), Australian politician and Premier of Queensland from 1906-1907 and again in 1908-1911
  • John Kidston Swire, Chairman of John Swire & Sons, President of Cathay Pacific Airways, of Hubbards Hall in Harlow, Essex

Halifax Explosion
  • Ms. Catherine Kidston, Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 2


The Kidston 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: Pro rege et lege
Motto Translation: For King and the law


  1. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 6) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  2. Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance


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