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![Show Contents]() Chastonne History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England
The present generation of the Chastonne family is only the most recent to bear a name that dates back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name comes from having lived in Caston, a small village in the county of Norfolk. The surname was originally seen in the Old English form Cattstun, and was also an occupational name for a person who kept watch over a feudal castle. Early Origins of the Chastonne familyThe surname Chastonne was first found in Cambridgeshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. After the Battle of Hastings in 1066, William, Duke of Normandy, having prevailed over King Harold, granted most of Britain to his many victorious Barons. It was not uncommon to find a Baron, or a Bishop, with 60 or more Lordships scattered throughout the country. These he gave to his sons, nephews and other junior lines of his family and they became known as under-tenants. They adopted the Norman system of surnames which identified the under-tenant with his holdings so as to distinguish him from the senior stem of the family. After many rebellious wars between his Barons, Duke William, commissioned a census of all England to determine in 1086, settling once and for all, who held which land. He called the census the Domesday Book, 1 indicating that those holders registered would hold the land until the end of time. Hence, Causton in 1086 was held by Hardwin of Scales, a Norman Baron, and, conjecturally, the ancient ancestor of this surname. The village is on Roman Ermine Street, as in Turdor times became a coaching village. Early History of the Chastonne familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Chastonne research. Another 183 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1279, 1327, 1335 and 1500 are included under the topic Early Chastonne History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Chastonne Spelling VariationsUntil the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Chastonne include Chaston, Chasten, Chasteyn, Chauston, Causton, Chastonne, Chastone, Chastenne, Chastein and many more. Early Notables of the Chastonne familyMore information is included under the topic Early Chastonne Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Chastonne familyThousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Chastonne were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: Nic. Michel Chassin, who arrived in Illinois sometime between 1717 and 1719; Philipp Chassin, who settled in America in 1838; G. R. Chas, who arrived in San Francisco in 1851.
- Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
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