Show ContentsGusterson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Gusterson

What does the name Gusterson mean?

The ancient Anglo-Saxon surname Gusterson came from the baptismal name which means Custance. Alternatively the name could have been a local name for someone from Coutance, a location name in Normandy. 1

Early Origins of the Gusterson family

The surname Gusterson was first found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 as both a forename and surname: Constance, or Custance de Byerne, Nottinghamshire; John Custaunce, Cambridgeshire; Henry filius Custance, Cambridgeshire; and Custance Burnard, Cambridgeshire.

Later the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 continued this tradition with: Custance de Bergh; and Adam Custanson. "The last two instances entered together are probably mother and son. " 2

Early History of the Gusterson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gusterson research. Another 55 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1379, 1629, 1650, 1669, 1801, 1881 and 1904 are included under the topic Early Gusterson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gusterson Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Gusterson family name include Custerson, Custer, Custance, Constance, Custeson and others.

Early Notables of the Gusterson family

Notables of the family at this time include Sir Roger Cuttance (fl. 1650-1669), an English Captain in the navy, a native of Weymouth, Dorset. 3Hambleton Custance, was a Lieutenant-Colonel...
Another 29 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Gusterson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Gusterson migration to Canada +

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, the Canadas, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Gusterson surname or a spelling variation of the name include:

Gusterson Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • William Gusterson, who settled in Quebec in 1870
  • Harriett Gusterson, who arrived in Toronto in 1871

Contemporary Notables of the name Gusterson (post 1700) +

  • Bridgette Marie Gusterson, OAM, born in Perth, Western Australia, also known as Bridgette Ireland, is an Australian water polo player, played at the 1995 FINA World Cup, and gold medal team of the 2000 Summer Olympics. She was a captain of the team from 1997 to 2000


The Gusterson 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: Appetitus rationi pareat
Motto Translation: Let your desires obey your reason.


  1. Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print


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