Balderston History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
An ancient Strathclyde-Briton family from the Scottish/English Borderlands were the first to use the name Balderston. They lived in the region of West Lothian or Linlithgow.
Early Origins of the Balderston family
The surname Balderston was first found in West Lothian, or Linlithgow, where they were very anciently seated. The lands of Balderstone were originally held by a man named Baldhere or Bealdhere, or Baldheres town. He held a family seat there about the year 1150.
Early History of the Balderston family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Balderston research. Another 161 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1599, 1628, 1634 and 1663 are included under the topic Early Balderston History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Balderston Spelling Variations
Before the printing press standardized spelling in the last few hundred years, no general rules existed in the English language. Spelling variations in Scottish names from the Middle Ages are common even within a single document. Balderston has been spelled Balderstone, Balderstoun, Balderston, Balderton, Batherstain, Baldirston, Baldirstone, Baldirstan, Baldirstoun, Baldeston and many more.
Early Notables of the Balderston family
Notable amongst the family at this time was
- William Balderston of Balderston
Balderston migration to the United States +
For Scottish immigrants, the great expense of travel to North America did not seem such a problem in those unstable times. Acres of land awaited them and many got the chance to fight for their freedom in the American War of Independence. These Scots and their ancestors went on to play important roles in the forging of the great nations of the United States and Canada. Among them:
Balderston Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- James Balderston, who arrived in America in 1810 1
- John Balderston, who arrived in Maryland in 1834 1
Balderston migration to Australia +
Emigration to
Australia followed the
First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:
Balderston Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
- James Balderston, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Gratitude" in 1848 2
Contemporary Notables of the name Balderston (post 1700) +
- Keith Justin Balderston (b. 1970), American actor, known for 5 Minutes (2014), Lunch Break (2013) and Revenge (2013)
- John Lloyd Balderston (1889-1954), American two-time Academy Award nominated playwright and screenwriter, known for The Last of the Mohicans (1992), Frankenstein (1931) and Dracula (1931)
- Kurt Balderston, Canadian curler from Sexsmith, Alberta, Canadian Mixed champion in 1992
- Rev. George Balderston Kidd (1794-1852), English Dissenting Minister and theological writer
The Balderston 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: Constance et ferme
Motto Translation: Perserverance and decision.
Suggested Readings for the name Balderston +
- The Balderston Family, Colora Branch.
- Balderston Family History by Marion Balderston.
Citations +
- Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
- State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) GRATITUDE 1848. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1848Gratitude.gif
