Prestun History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Prestun is an ancient Norman name that arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Prestun family lived Lincolnshire, at Preston, from where they derived their name. The name Preston comes from the Old English words preost, meaning priest, and tun, meaning enclosure or settlement. 1 "Thirty-five parishes and places are named [Preston] in the Gazetteer, and there are many others in various counties. The origin of the name, from preostes-tun. 'the priest's enclosure or homestead ' is undoubted." 2

Early Origins of the Prestun family

The surname Prestun was first found in Lincolnshire, where Laurence de Preston was one of the first records of the name. Peter de Prestun was listed as a Knights Templar in Yorkshire in 1185. 3

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 also list Alice de Preston in Northamptonshire. Years later the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Johannes de Pryston and Isabella de Preston. 4

The Scottish branch of the family was established long ago and in this case, the family claim descent from "the barony of Preston or Prestoun, afterwards known as Gourtoun and now Craigmillar in Midlothian. Alured de Preston appears as a charter witness in 1222, and Lyulph, son of Lyulph de Preston, c. 1240-50, had a charter from John Albus of a piece of land in Linlithgow which lie made over to the Abbey of Neubotel. Johannes de Prestun witnessed a quitclaim by Johannes Gallard apud Muskilburg in 1248. Alured de Preston appears as a charter witness in 1222, and Lyulph, son of Lyulph de Preston, c. 1240-50, had a charter from John Albus of a piece of land in Linlithgow which lie made over to the Abbey of Neubotel. Johannes de Prestun witnessed a quitclaim by Johannes Gallard apud Muskilburg in 1248." 5

"Beeston Hall, a Gothic mansion in a small park [in Beeston, Norfolk], has long been the residence of the Prestons, one of whom, Jacob Preston, received an emerald ring, still preserved in the family, from Charles I. when upon the scaffold, as a last tribute of affection." 6

This latter source also notes that some of the family were found in the hamlet of Meerbeck in the West Riding of Yorkshire: "Here is the seat of John Preston, Esq., whose family have been settled in this part of the West riding for more than four centuries." 6

Gilbert de Preston (died 1274) was Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas, son of Walter de Preston (d. 1230), or Walter Fitz Winemar, who was sheriff of Northamptonshire in 1207 and 1208. 7

Robert Preston, 1st Baron Gormanston (died 1396) was an Anglo-Irish nobleman, statesman and judge of the fourteenth century. For a brief period, he was Lord Chancellor of Ireland. He was the founder of the leading Anglo-Irish Preston family whose titles included Viscount Gormanston and Viscount Tara. He was the son of Roger de Preston (died 1346) who was the son of Adam de Preston, a wealthy merchant from Preston, Lancashire.

Early History of the Prestun family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Prestun research. Another 196 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1207, 1208, 1212, 1227, 1228, 1230, 1274, 1291, 1332, 1362, 1366, 1372, 1382, 1415, 1421, 1453, 1503, 1538, 1570, 1581, 1582, 1584, 1585, 1587, 1588, 1595, 1596, 1597, 1601, 1603, 1609, 1616, 1617, 1619, 1628, 1637, 1655, 1659, 1688, 1706, 1715, 1720, 1745, 1748, 1753, 1807, 1826, 1827 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Prestun History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Prestun Spelling Variations

Norman surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are largely due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England, as well as the official court languages of Latin and French, also had pronounced influences on the spelling of surnames. Since medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings. The name has been spelled Prestone, Preston, Presson and others.

Early Notables of the Prestun family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was John de Prestone, Lord Mayor of London in 1332; Sir Amyas Preston of Somerset (died 1617), English naval commander; Robert Preston, British MP for Westmorland in 1421; Robert Preston, 1st Viscount Gormanston (1453-1503), Irish politician; and Thomas Preston, 1st Viscount Tara (1585-1655), an Irish soldier of the 17th century.Sir John Preston (fl 1415), was an English judge member of an ancient Westmorland family seated at Preston Richard and Preston Patrick in the southern part of the county.Sir Simon Preston (fl. 1538-1570), of Preston and Craigmillar, provost of Edinburgh in the time of Mary...
Another 130 words (9 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Prestun Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Prestun family to Ireland

Some of the Prestun family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 89 words (6 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 Prestun family

Many English families emigrated to North American colonies in order to escape the political chaos in Britain at this time. Unfortunately, many English families made the trip to the New World under extremely harsh conditions. Overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the stormy Atlantic. Despite these hardships, many of the families prospered and went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the United States and Canada. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Prestun or a variant listed above: John Preston, who sailed to Virginia in 1634; Daniell Preston sailed to New England in 1635; George Preston sailed to Carolina in 1684; Richard Preston sailed to Maryland in 1650.

The Prestun 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: Si Dieu Veult
Motto Translation: If God wills it.

Citations +

Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
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)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print