| ![Show Contents]() Kirkston History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Etymology of KirkstonWhat does the name Kirkston mean? The ancestors of the Kirkston surname lived among the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. The name comes from when they lived in the region of Kirkton which referred to site where a church was in Berkshire. Kirkston is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. Habitation names form the other broad category of surnames that were derived from place-names. They were derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. Other local names are derived from the names of houses, manors, estates, regions, and entire counties. Early Origins of the Kirkston familyThe surname Kirkston was first found in Lincolnshire where "the Kirketons, ennobled by the title of Baron by Edward III., derived their name and title from Kirkton, now Kirton." 1 One of the earliest records of the family was that of Edmund Kirkton (d. 1466), the English prelate and Abbot of Westminister. Further to the north in Scotland, "this surname appears in several records in different parts of the country and as the place name is common it is possible that persons bearing this surname are of different origin. Wilham de Kirketon appears as witness in Aberdeen in 1243. Adam de Kirketone of the county of Edneburk rendered homage in 1296." 2 Early History of the Kirkston familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kirkston research. Another 111 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1270, 1296, 1466, 1620, 1674, 1676 and 1699 are included under the topic Early Kirkston History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Kirkston Spelling VariationsBefore 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 Kirkston include Kirton, Kirkton, Kirtman and others. Early Notables of the Kirkston familyEdmund Kirton (d. 1466), English divine, Abbot of Westminster. He belonged to the old family of Cobbledick, but took the name Kirton, probably from the village he was born. His tomb is in St. Andrew's Chapel, Westminster Abbey.
James Kirkton...
Another 40 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Kirkston Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Kirkston familyA 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: Phillip and Sarah Kirton settled in Barbados in 1680 with their servants; William Kirton settled in Barbados in 1673; Anthony Kirton settled in New England in 1769..
- Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
- Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
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