| ![Show Contents]() Yorkstoun History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Scotland England The noble Viking settlers who came to the rocky shores of Scotland in the Middle Ages brought with them the ancestors of the Yorkstoun family. They lived in the village of Yorkstounis, which was in the parish of Corstorphine, Edinburgh. 1 Early Origins of the Yorkstoun familyThe surname Yorkstoun was first found in Edinburghshire, a former county, now part of the Midlothian council area, where they held a family seat at Yorkstounis in the parish of Corstophine, from about the 12th century. 1 Early records of the family are very scarce as the first record found was that of "William Yorstoun and James Yorkstoun were burgesses and charter witnesses in Edinburgh, 1484. A family of the same name is early found in Orkney. Robert Yorkstoun is recorded as 'quondam' tacksman of the links of Burray in 1492 and 1502. 'An early connection of the Yorstons with Burray is indicated by the old rental, but they can have been no more than tacksmen there. The evidence of the Uthel book points strongly to Rowsay as their home, and is corroborated by later documents, and by the fact of an early marriage with the Craigies of Brough.'" 1 In England and Wales, Yorton, is a location name in Salop (Shropshire.) 2 Early History of the Yorkstoun familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Yorkstoun research. Another 139 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1492, 1500, 1508 and 1539 are included under the topic Early Yorkstoun History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Yorkstoun Spelling VariationsScottish names from the Middle Ages vary enormously in their spellings. This is a result of the fact that there were no universal standards like dictionaries for scribes to judge by. The recorded spelling variations of the name Yorkstoun include Yorston, Yorgston, Yourston, Yourtwon, Yourstown, Yorkton, Yourkton, Yorkson, Yorkston, Yorkstoun, Yorkstown, Yourkston, Yorkstant, Yorkstan, Yourkstan, Yorstan and many more. Early Notables of the Yorkstoun familyMore information is included under the topic Early Yorkstoun Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Yorkstoun familySettlers found farms all along the eastern part of what would become the United States and Canada. They provided a base and a backbone that would strengthen two great nations in the making. In the 20th century, the ancestors of those brave Scots have rediscovered their heritage through highland games and Scottish historical societies. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the Scottish name Yorkstoun or a variant listed above, including: Archibald Yorston arrived in New Castle County Delaware in 1741; he moved on to Pennsylvania in 1844.
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: Mens conscia recti
Motto Translation: A mind conscious of integrity
- 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)
- Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
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