Show ContentsListo History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Listo Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Listo

What does the name Listo mean?

The many generations and branches of the Listo family can all place the origins of their surname with the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. Their name reveals that an early member worked as a "litster" or dyer, a trade-name for a person who dyed clothes and other fabrics. This surname is derived from the Old English words lite and litte, which both mean to dye. 1 2

Early Origins of the Listo family

The surname Listo was first found in Yorkshire where today it is one of the most populous surname in that shire. Early records show "Lystare, clothe dyynge (or lytaster of clothe dyynge." "The pedigree is traced to the sixth of Edward II., when John de Lister was resident of Derby. The elder line was of Mydhope, or Middop." 3 He later transferred himself to Yorkshire on his marriage with the daughter and heiress of John de Bolton. One source claims the "Norfolk rebellion in 1381 was called Lister's rebellion, because headed by John Lister, or Littester, a dyer of Norwich." 4

Gisburn in the West Riding of Yorkshire "was for many generations the seat of the family of Lister, whose descendant, Lord Ribblesdale, is lord of the manor. Gisburn Park is a noble mansion, containing a valuable collection of paintings; the park is extensive, and approached by a handsome lodge. The Lister family are interred in a vault in the church." 5

"Manningham Hall, [in Manningham, in the West Riding of Yorkshire] the seat of E. C. Lister Kaye, Esq., is a handsome mansion, erected on the site of the ancient house of the Lister family, taken down in 1770, and is surrounded by a park." 5

In Scotland, early Latin show "the name is rendered tinctor. Theodoric tinctor of Perth purchased a toft there c. 1200, and Arnald tinctor was one of the witnesses. Richard tinctor was burgess of Kelso in 1237, and Ralph tinctor who was custumar of Linlithgow in 1327 appears in 1329 as provost of the burgh. Pieres le litstere of the county of Berwyke and Aleyn le Littester of Edinburghshire rendered homage in 1296. Galfridus Lyttistar was chaplain of the chapel of S. Margaret in the Castle of Edinburgh in 1390. John Litstar, professor of canon law in the newly founded University of St. Andrews, 1410." 6

Early History of the Listo family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Listo research. Another 285 words (20 lines of text) covering the years 1200, 1296, 1365, 1428, 1431, 1442, 1449, 1452, 1463, 1468, 1472, 1493, 1521, 1534, 1555, 1574, 1580, 1597, 1638, 1639, 1658, 1668, 1685, 1705, 1707, 1712, 1715, 1718, 1731, 1791 and 1840 are included under the topic Early Listo History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Listo Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Listo were recorded, including Lister, Litster, Lidster and others.

Early Notables of the Listo family

Michael Lister, High Sheriff of Herefordshire in 1534; Sir Martin Lister (c. 1638-1712), English naturalist and physician, eponym of the Dorsa Lister ridge on the Moon; Anne Lister (1791-1840) was a well-off Yorkshire landowner, diarist and traveler; Thomas Lister (1597-1668), English Colonel in the Parliamentary army during the English Civil War, he was appointed a judge...
Another 56 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Listo Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Listo family

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Listo family emigrate to North America: Thomas Lister, who settled in Virginia in 1635; Mary Lister settled in Barbados in 1680 with her servants; Elizabeth Lister arrived in New York State in 1811..

The Listo 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: Retinens vestigia famae
Motto Translation: Still treading the footsteps of an honourable ancestry.
  1. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. 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. Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
  4. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  5. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  6. 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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