Eyst History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The Eyst name has descended through the generations from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. Their name comes from having lived in the area of the town or village that was in the east. The surname originated in the southern counties of Bedfordshire, Oxfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Essex.

However, another source claims the name could have been Norman in origin as the Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae list Amelot Best, or D'Est, was from Normandy in 1195. 1

Early Origins of the Eyst family

The surname Eyst was first found in Essex where they held a family seat from very early times in the town of Colchester. One of the first records of the name was Amelot Best, or D'Est, in Normandy in 1195. 1 But by the 13th century, the name was scattered throughout Britain with various spellings. The Hunderdorum Rolls of 1273 lists: Robert del Est in Cambridgeshire; Richard Est in Lincolnshire; and Geoffrey Est and Emma ate Estend in Oxfordshire. 2

There were two baronetcies created for persons with the surname East. The first was for William East of Hall Place who was High Sheriff of Berkshire in 1766. That title became extinct in 1828 with the death of the 2nd Baronet. The second was Edward Hyde East of Calcutta, India in 1823. He was Member of Parliament for Great Bedwyn (1792-1796) and Winchester (1823-1831.) And that title became extinct upon the death of the 2nd Baronet in 1878.

Through the female side Mary, daughter of Sir William East, 1st Baronet, of Hall Place married Sir East George Clayton to become baronets of Hall Place, Maidenhead in 1838.

Early History of the Eyst family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Eyst research. Another 192 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1196, 1200, 1297, 1300, 1540, 1565, 1588, 1601, 1602, 1604, 1606, 1608, 1609, 1610, 1618, 1631, 1675, 1696, 1745 and 1776 are included under the topic Early Eyst History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Eyst Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Eyst has undergone many spelling variations, including East, Easte, Est, Eyst, Eyste and others.

Early Notables of the Eyst family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Thomas East (also spelt Est, Este, and Easte) (1540?-1608?), the English printer and music publisher who was made a freeman of the Stationers' Company on 6 Dec. 1565. 3 He was one of the most important of our early music typographers and publishers. The first work printed by him with which we are acquainted was Byrd's 'Psalmes, Sonets and Songs of sadnes and pietie,' which appeared in 1588, he then 'dwelling by Paules Wharf,' and describing himself as 'the Assigne of W. Byrd '; i. e. assignee of the patent granted to the...
Another 261 words (19 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Eyst Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Eyst family

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Eyst were among those contributors: Richard East who landed with his family in Virginia in 1623; Francis East settled in Tobago, on one of the southern islands, and Benjamin East landed in Pennsylvania in 1682..

The Eyst 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: J'avance
Motto Translation: I advance.

Citations +

The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
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