Turston History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The lineage of the name Turston begins with the Anglo-Saxon tribes in Britain. It is a result of when they lived in the village of Thurston found in the county of Suffolk. The surname Turston is a habitation name that was originally derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. The surname originated as a means of identifying individuals from a particular area. As a general rule, the greater the distance between an individual and their homeland, the larger the territory they were named after. For example, a person who only moved to another parish would be known by the name of their original village, while people who migrated to a different country were often known by the name of a region or country from which they came.

Early Origins of the Turston family

The surname Turston was first found in Suffolk at Thurston, a parish, in the union of Stow, hundred of Thedwastry. 1 The place name dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 where it was first listed as Thurstuna. 2

Literally the place name means "farmstead of a man called Thori," from the Viking personal name + the Old English word "tun." 3

It is generally believed that the name originated in this parish. However, the name could have perhaps been derived "from the Teutonic name Turstin, which is found in the Domesday [Book] as the designation of persons both Norman and Saxon. One Turstanus is there described as 'machinator' - probably a military engineer." 4

One of the first on record was Turstin or Thurstan (d. 1140), Archbishop of York, "[he] was son of Anger or Auger, prebendary of St. Paul's, London, by his wife Popelina. His brother Audoen succeeded to his father's prebend, was bishop of Evreux, and died in 1139. Thurstan was a native of Bayeux, and a prebendary of St. Paul's. " 5

Early History of the Turston family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Turston research. Another 55 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Turston History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Turston Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Turston has undergone many spelling variations, including Thurston, Turston, Thruston, Turstin and others.

Early Notables of the Turston family

More information is included under the topic Early Turston Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Turston family

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Turston were among those contributors: John and Margaret Thurston, who settled in Boston Mass in 1637 with their two sons; Edward Thurston settled in Virginia in 1650; Daniel Thurston settled in New England in 1635..

The Turston 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: Esse quam videri
Motto Translation: To be, rather than to seem.

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
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.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print