Show ContentsBastow History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Bastow

What does the name Bastow mean?

The ancestors of the Bastow surname lived among the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. The name comes from when they lived in Yorkshire, where they took their name from Bairstow in West Yorkshire. The place-name is derived from the Old English terms beger, for berries, and stow, for grow. It referred to "the place where berries are grown". 1

Early Origins of the Bastow family

The surname Bastow was first found in Yorkshire, where they held a family seat from ancient times, long before the Norman Conquest of England in 1066 A.D.

Alternatively, the Barton variant could have originated at Barston, a parish, in the union of Solihull, Solihull division of the hundred of Hemlingford in Warwickshire. "In Domesday Book it is written Bercestone, the name, it is supposed, of a possessor in the time of the Saxons. It was anciently given to the Knights Templars and the Hospitallers." 2

Early History of the Bastow family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bastow research. Another 27 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bastow History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bastow Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Bastow include Barstow, Bairstow, Bairstoe, Barstoe and others.

Early Notables of the Bastow family

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


Bastow migration to the United States +

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:

Bastow Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Douglas Bastow, aged 24, originally from Toronto, Canada, who arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Lapland" from Liverpool, England 3
  • Robert Bastow, aged 50, originally from New York, who arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "La Savoie" from Le Havre, France 3
  • William Bastow, aged 43, who arrived in New York in 1920 aboard the ship "New York" from Southampton, England 3
  • William S. Bastow, aged 6, originally from Keighley, England, who arrived in New York in 1920 aboard the ship "Caronia" from Liverpool, England 3

Bastow migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Bastow Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Miss Hepzibah Bastow, (Bastow, Elizabeth)1828, English needle woman who was convicted in Plymouth, Devon, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Cadet" on 10th November 1848, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Bastow (post 1700) +

  • James Austin Bastow (1810-1894), English Primitive Methodist Minister
  • Ian John Bastow (b. 1971), English former professional football midfielder
  • Darren Bastow (b. 1981), English former professional footballer
  • Tommy Bastow (b. 1991), English actor and musician
  • Henry Robert Bastow (1839-1920), Australian architect
  • Richard Austin Bastow (1839-1920), Australian naturalist and bryologist
  • Clem Bastow (b. 1982), Australian writer, broadcaster and music critic

SS Caribou
  • Mr. Gerald H. Bastow (b. 1923), Newfoundland passenger who was Royal Air Force pilot officer from St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador was travelling aboard the railway ferry "SS Caribou" when it was struck by a German submarine torpedo on 14th October 1942, the most significant sinking in Canadian waters at that time, he survived the sinking, he was later awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross when shot down over enemy territory
SS Newfoundland
  • Mr. Raymond Bastow (1897-1914), Newfoundlander from St. John's, who on the 30th March 1914 he was part of the Seal Crew of the "SS Newfoundland" leaving the ship to intercept the Stephano which took him to the hunting grounds, he disembarked to begin sealing, but was caught in a thickening storm, attempting to return to the Newfoundland he and the 132 crew made camp for two days the sealers were stranded on the ice in a blizzard attempting to return to the ship, he died during this time


  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  3. Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
  4. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/cadet/


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