| ![Show Contents]() Listen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Etymology of ListenWhat does the name Listen mean? The age-old Scottish surname Listen was first used by the Strathclyde-Briton people. The Listen family lived at Liston, an old barony, now included in the parish of Kirkliston. "This parish, of which about one-fourth lies in the county of Edinburgh, and three-fourths in that of Linlithgow, was formerly called Temple-Liston, an appellation partly acquired from the knights Templars, who obtained the chief lands in the twelfth century. The ancient name of Liston is supposed to have been derived from some considerable family residing here, or from the Celtic term lioston, signifying "an inclosure on the side of a river," and exactly answering to the locality. Upon the dissolution of the fraternity of Knights Templars, the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem became owners of their large estates in this district, which they held till the Reformation." 1 Early Origins of the Listen familyThe surname Listen was first found in Kirkliston, a parish, partly in the county of Edinburgh, but chiefly in that of Linlithgow. One of the first records of the family was Roger de Liston, who witnessed a charter by Richard, bishop of St. Andrews in 1163, and again, before 1173, he witnessed the gift of the church of Hadintona by the same bishop. About 1260, Robert de Liston was chaplain of William, bishop of St. Andrews. 2 Further to the south, some of the family could have originated in the parish of Liston in the union of Sudbury, hundred of Hinckford in Essex. In fact, the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, list Thomas de Liston as holding lands there at that time. The same rolls list Geoffrey de Lyston in Cambridgeshire. 3 The Feet of Fines of 1235-1236 listed Geoffrey de Liston in Essex and later John de Liston was listed in the Feet of Fines for Surrey for 1307-1309. 4 Early History of the Listen familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Listen research. Another 127 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1163, 1296, 1334, 1482, 1501, 1668, 1794 and 1847 are included under the topic Early Listen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Listen Spelling VariationsIn Medieval times, spelling and translation were not nearly so highly developed as today. They were generally carried out according to the sound and intuition of the bearer. For that reason spelling variations are extremely common among early Scottish names. Listen has been spelled Liston, Lyston, Listen and others. Early Notables of the Listen familyMore information is included under the topic Early Listen Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Listen family to IrelandSome of the Listen family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Listen familyUnrest, poverty, and persecution caused thousands to look for opportunity and freedom in the North American colonies. The crossing was long, overcrowded, and unsanitary, though, and came only at great expense. Many Strathclyde families settled on the east coast of North America in communities that would form the backbone of what would become the great nations of the United States and Canada. The American War of Independence caused those who remained loyal to England to move north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. In the 20th century, Strathclyde and other Scottish families across North America began to recover their collective heritage through highland games and Clan societies. Among them: John and Elizabeth Liston, who arrived in New York in 1811; Michael Liston arrived in Philadelphia in 1856.
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: Poco a poca
Motto Translation: By little and little.
- Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, 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)
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
 |
