| ![Show Contents]() Yourkstand History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Scotland England The Yourkstand family name comes from a place name that was first used among the Viking settlers who arrived in the shores of Scotland in the Middle Ages. The Yourkstand name comes from someone having lived in the village of Yorkstounis, which was in the parish of Corstorphine, Edinburgh. 1 Early Origins of the Yourkstand familyThe surname Yourkstand 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 Yourkstand familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Yourkstand research. Another 139 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1492, 1500, 1508 and 1539 are included under the topic Early Yourkstand History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Yourkstand Spelling VariationsTranslation and spelling were non-standardized practices in the Middle Ages, so scribes had only their ears to rely on. This was a practice of extremely limited efficiency, and spelling variations in names, even within a single document, were the result. Over the years, Yourkstand has appeared Yorston, Yorgston, Yourston, Yourtwon, Yourstown, Yorkton, Yourkton, Yorkson, Yorkston, Yorkstoun, Yorkstown, Yourkston, Yorkstant, Yorkstan, Yourkstan, Yorstan and many more. Early Notables of the Yourkstand familyMore information is included under the topic Early Yourkstand Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Yourkstand familyThe fertile east coast of what would become US and Canada was soon dotted with the farms of Scottish settlers. Some of them remained faithful to the crown and called themselves United Empire Loyalists, while others had the chance to pay back their old oppressors in the American War of Independence. That brave spirit lives on today in the highland games that dot North America in the summer. Passenger and immigration lists indicate that members of the Yourkstand family came to North America quite early: 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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