Tursun History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The Anglo-Saxon name Tursun comes from when the family resided in the village of Thurston found in the county of Suffolk. The surname Tursun is a habitation name that was originally derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. The surname originated as a means of identifying individuals from a particular area. As a general rule, the greater the distance between an individual and their homeland, the larger the territory they were named after. For example, a person who only moved to another parish would be known by the name of their original village, while people who migrated to a different country were often known by the name of a region or country from which they came.

Early Origins of the Tursun family

The surname Tursun was first found in Suffolk at Thurston, a parish, in the union of Stow, hundred of Thedwastry. 1 The place name dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 where it was first listed as Thurstuna. 2

Literally the place name means "farmstead of a man called Thori," from the Viking personal name + the Old English word "tun." 3

It is generally believed that the name originated in this parish. However, the name could have perhaps been derived "from the Teutonic name Turstin, which is found in the Domesday [Book] as the designation of persons both Norman and Saxon. One Turstanus is there described as 'machinator' - probably a military engineer." 4

One of the first on record was Turstin or Thurstan (d. 1140), Archbishop of York, "[he] was son of Anger or Auger, prebendary of St. Paul's, London, by his wife Popelina. His brother Audoen succeeded to his father's prebend, was bishop of Evreux, and died in 1139. Thurstan was a native of Bayeux, and a prebendary of St. Paul's. " 5

Early History of the Tursun family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Tursun research. Another 55 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Tursun History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Tursun Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Tursun has been recorded under many different variations, including Thurston, Turston, Thruston, Turstin and others.

Early Notables of the Tursun family

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

Migration of the Tursun family

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Tursun or a variant listed above: John and Margaret Thurston, who settled in Boston Mass in 1637 with their two sons; Edward Thurston settled in Virginia in 1650; Daniel Thurston settled in New England in 1635..

The Tursun 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: Esse quam videri
Motto Translation: To be, rather than to seem.

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, 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)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print