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Scottish annals reveal that the Yorkstoomb surname came from a place name in Scotland, named with Viking elements. The name was no doubt taken on when they lived in the village of Yorkstounis, which was in the parish of Corstorphine, Edinburgh. 1
The surname Yorkstoomb 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
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Yorkstoomb research. Another 139 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1492, 1500, 1508 and 1539 are included under the topic Early Yorkstoomb History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Spelling variations are extremely common among Scottish names dating from this era because the arts of spelling and translation were not yet standardized. Spelling was done by sound, and translation from Gaelic to English was generally quite careless. In different records, Yorkstoomb has been spelled Yorston, Yorgston, Yourston, Yourtwon, Yourstown, Yorkton, Yourkton, Yorkson, Yorkston, Yorkstoun, Yorkstown, Yourkston, Yorkstant, Yorkstan, Yourkstan, Yorstan and many more.
More information is included under the topic Early Yorkstoomb Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Those who made the voyage were greeted with ample opportunity to acquire land and a political climate far away from the oppressive monarchy of the old country. They settled along the east coast of what would become Canada and the United States. In the American War of Independence, those who remained loyal to England traveled north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. In this century, many Scots living in North America have begun to recover their rich heritage through festivals, highland games, and Clan societies. An examination of passenger and immigration lists has shown early immigrants bearing the name Yorkstoomb: Archibald Yorston arrived in New Castle County Delaware in 1741; he moved on to Pennsylvania in 1844.