Yorston History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

Early Origins of the Yorston family

The surname Yorston was first found in Edinburghshire, a former county, now part of the Midlothian council area where they held the lands of Yorkstoun in the parish of Corstorphine. Although there is evidence that the name may have been Orcadian in origin many centuries before, from the island of Burray, and possibly Saba. There is strong evidence that Rowsay in the Orkneys was their original home.

Early History of the Yorston family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Yorston research. Another 69 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1400, 1484, 1500 and 1539 are included under the topic Early Yorston History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Yorston Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Yourston, Yorston, Yorkstoun, Yorkson and others.

Early Notables of the Yorston family

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

Yorston migration to the United States +

Yorston Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Archibald Yorston, who settled in Newcastle county in Delaware in 1841

Yorston migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Yorston Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. David Yorston, aged 21, Scottish carpenter who arrived in Port Chalmers, New Zealand aboard the ship "Oamaru" in 1878
Mrs. Ann R Yorston, aged 18, Scottish settler who arrived in Port Chalmers, New Zealand aboard the ship "Oamaru" in 1878

Contemporary Notables of the name Yorston (post 1700) +

David Yorston, file actor
Sir Robert Keith Yorston (1902-1983), Australian college professor and writer in accountancy and law, Commander of the British Empire 1963, Knighted 1969