The ancestors of the bearers of the Mostend surname lived in or near the Welsh settlement of Mostyn in Whitford. The surname Mostend belongs to the category of habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.
The surname Mostend was first found in Flintshire (Welsh: Sir y Fflint), a historic county, created after the defeat of the Welsh Kingdom of Gwynedd in 1284, and located in north-east Wales, where they were descended from one of the fifteen noble tribes of Wales. In the 12th century they were Lords of the Manor of Mostyn, seated at Mostyn Hall. At the taking of the Domesday Book in 1086 Mostyn, was held by Robert of Rhuddlan from whom they may also be conjecturally descended. Another branch of the family was found in Moston, Cheshire. "The manor, in old records "Moreston," was given about 1125 to the convent of St. Werburgh, under which an estate was held here by a family who took their name from the township." [1]
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Mostend research. Another 112 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1925, 1567, 1642, 1621 and 1622 are included under the topic Early Mostend History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Compared to other ancient cultures found in the British Isles, the number of Welsh surnames are relatively few, but there are an inordinately large number of spelling variations. These spelling variations began almost as soon as surname usage became common. The most obvious reason was the challenge of translating from Welsh into English. As a result, people could not specify how to spell their own names leaving the specific recording up to the individual scribe or priest. Those recorders would then spell the names as they heard them, causing many different variations. Later, many Welsh names were recorded in English. This transliteration process was extremely imprecise since the Brythonic Celtic language of the Welsh used many sounds the English language was not accustomed to. Finally, some variations occurred by the individual's design: a branch loyalty within a family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations were indicated by spelling variations of one's name. The Mostend name over the years has been spelled Mostyn, Mostin, Mostyne, Mosten, Mostine and others.
More information is included under the topic Early Mostend Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Many people from Wales joined the general migration to North America in the 19th and 20th centuries, searching for land, work, and freedom. Like the many other immigrants from the British Isles, they made a significant contribution to the development of Canada and the United States. The Welsh and their descendents added a rich cultural tradition to the newly developed towns, cities, and villages. An investigation of the immigration and passenger lists has revealed a number of people bearing the name Mostend: John Mosten arrived in North America in 1750.