| ![Show Contents]() Cawston History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
England
Etymology of CawstonWhat does the name Cawston mean? The ancestry of the name Cawston dates from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It comes from when the family lived in the hamlet of Causton in Norfolk. The place-name appears in the Domesday Book as Caustuna. 1 "The manor of Causton in South Erpingham, Norfolk, is mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of 1373." 2 Early Origins of the Cawston familyThe surname Cawston was first found in Norfolk where the History of Norfolk notes: "Beatrix, relict of Stephen de Causton, Edgefield, Norfolk and Richer de Causton, Norfolk, 1265. " 2 A few years later, the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 noted Godfrey de Causton, Norfolk; and William de Causton, Norfolk. 2 Of note in the ancient times was Michael de Cawston or Causton (d. 1395), Master of Michaelhouse, Cambridge, a Norfolk man, presumably a native of the village of Cawston, about twelve miles north-west of Norwich. "He became fellow of Pembroke College, Cambridge, doctor of divinity, and master of Michaelhouse. His appointment as master was apparently made subsequently to 1359, when William of Gotham is mentioned as holding that office. In 1361 or 1362, Cawston was chancellor of his university." 3 Early History of the Cawston familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cawston research. Another 120 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1335, 1569, 1631, 1638, 1673 and 1711 are included under the topic Early Cawston History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Cawston Spelling VariationsSpelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Cawston have been found, including Causton, Caustin, Cawston, Kawston and others. Early Notables of the Cawston familyThomas Causton (d. 1569), English musical composer, "a gentleman of the chapel royal under Edward VI, Mary, and Elizabeth. Nothing is known of his parentage, but it is possible that he is identical with a Thomas Causton who was living about the same date at Oxted in Surrey. This...
Another 49 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Cawston Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Cawston familyFamilies began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Cawston, or a variant listed above: Paul Caustin who settled in New England in 1770; Thomas Causton settled in Georgia with his wife Martha in 1732; William Caustin settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1764..
| Contemporary Notables of the name Cawston (post 1700) | + |
- Edwin Richard Cawston, CVO, Head of Documentary Programmes, B.B.C. Television
- Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
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