Shensten History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Shensten family

The surname Shensten was first found in Staffordshire at Shenstone, a parish, in the union of Lichfield, S. division of the hundred of Offlow. 1 2

This parish dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 when it was recorded as Seneste. 3 By the 11th century, the parish was known as Scenstan and literally meant "beautiful stone," from the Old English words "scene" + "stan." 4

Another source has a slightly different Anglicization of the 11th century entry and explores the reason for the name: "Scenstan = the Bright Stone or Rock (Castle) [Old English scéone, bright, fair + stán, stone, rock, stone or rock castle] Shenstone is on a hill. In the parish 'was formerly a castle or fortification, the site of which is still called Castle- Field.' " 5

Early English rolls provide us a glimpse of the spelling variations used through Medieval times. Today we typically need to look beyond the spellings of these entries and concentrate on a phonetic appreciation of the names. Richard de Scheneston was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275; Geoffrey de Shenstone was found in the Assize Rolls for Staffordshire in 1348; and William Shenston was recorded in the Feet of Fines for Warwickshire, 1426-1427. 6

Early History of the Shensten family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Shensten research. Another 88 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1275 and 1792 are included under the topic Early Shensten History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Shensten Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Shenstone, Shenton, Shenston, Shentin, Shensten and others.

Early Notables of the Shensten family

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

Migration of the Shensten family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: George Shenston, who settled in Maryland in 1660; Samuel Shenton, who came to Barbados in 1678; Jane Shenton, who came to Barbados in 1678; Grace Shenton, who settled in Barbados in 1678.

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)