Ancient History of the surname Weston
The origins of the surname!
Surnames as we know them today were first assumed in Europe from the 11th to the 15th centuries. They were not used in England and Scotland before the Norman Conquest of 1066 and were first found in the Domesday Book. The employment of a second name, a custom introduced by the Normans, who themselves had not long adopted it, became in the course of time, a mark of gentle blood. It was deemed a disgrace for a gentleman to have but one single name, as the meaner sort had. It was not until the reign of Edward II (1307-1327), that the practice became general amongst all people. These names were adapted according to fairly general principles and can be generally divided into four classifications. Local names are taken from places of origin (as is the case with the surname WESTON). Occupational names denote the trade or profession of early users. Nicknames describe mental and physical characteristics, complexion, clothes etc.. The Patronymic was the method of taking the first name of the father as the last name of the son.
The period between the beginning of the 5th century and the end of the 7th century was an age of migration. Many of the early Anglo-Saxon place names are thus the personal names of the people who came to live in these places. I.e. tun = enclosure; farmstead; village - Westun = West farm.
WESTON was Local, one who lived to the west of the village or town (then tuna). Early records mention Godwinus de Westuna 1086 Domesday book.
WESTON, like NORTON, SUTTON and EASTON denote where the original owners of the surname lived. Over the centuries though, there have been variations in the spellings. WESTON was often seen as WESSON and indeed you can still see it in some phone books. The "ton" or "tun" show that the places existed over 900 years ago and were Saxon settlements. However, some experts like to point out that there is a place called WHETSTONE in Leicestershire, and it may have been something to do with a trade of sharpening weapons or agricultural tools. On the River Trent at WESTON in Derbyshire, the villagers still call it WESSON.
WESTON is "Old English", ie., not Norman or Saxon and means western or west facing farm or to the west of the farm or village. First noted and recorded in Britain in 1086, being noted to the person of Godwinus de Westuna in the county of Huntingdonshire. Spelling has developed from Westuna and is first recorded as Weston in Worcs in 1275 to the person of Adam Weston.
The ancient chronicles of England reveal the early records of
the name Weston as an "Old English" surname which ranks as
one of the oldest. The history of the name is closely
interwoven within the majestic tapestry as an intrinsic part of the
history of Britain.
In-depth research by skilled analysts into ancient manuscripts such
as the Domesday Book. (compiled in 1086 by William the Conqueror),
the Ragman Rolls, the Wace poem, the Honour Roll of the Battel
Abbey, The Curia Regis, Pipe Rolls, the Falaise Roll, tax records,
baptismals, family genealogies, local parish and church records,
shows the first record of the name Weston was found in Staffordshire
England where they had been seated at Weston-under-lizard, having
been granted lands as a tenant in chief by William the Conqueror.
Reginald Bailleul was from Bailleul-En-Gouffern at Orne,
arrondisement of Argentan, in the Canton of Trun, in
Normandy.
Many
alternative spellings were found in the archives researched,
typically linked to a common root, usually one of the Norman nobles
at the Battle of Hastings. Although the name, Weston, appeared in
many references, from time to time the surname was spelled
differently, and these changes in spelling frequently occurred, even
between father and son. Scribes recorded and spelled the name as it
sounded. Typically a person would be born with one spelling,
married with another, and buried with a headstone which showed
another. All three spellings referred to the same person.
The family name Weston is believed to be descended originally from
the Norman race, frequently but mistakenly assumed to be of French
origin. They were more accurately of Viking origin. The Vikings
landed in the Orkneys and Northern Scotland about the year 870 A.D.,
under their king, Stirgud the Stout. Thorfinn Rollo, his descendant
landed in northern France about the year 940 A.D. The French King,
Charles the Simple, after Rollo laid siege to Paris, finally
conceded defeat and granted northern France to Rollo. Rollo became
the first duke of Normandy, the territory of the "north men".
Rollo married Charles’ daughter and became a convert to
Christianity. Duke William who invaded and defeated England in 1066,
was descended from the first Duke Rollo of Normandy.
Duke William took a census of most of England in 1086, and recorded
it in the Domesday book. A family name capable of being
traced back to this manuscript, or to Hastings, was a signal honour
for most families during the middle ages, and even to this
day.
The surname
Weston emerged as a notable family name in the county of
Staffordshire, in the manors of Weston, Burton, Broton, and Newton.
The name became Weston about 1140 when Sir Hamo de Weston adopted
that name. By the year 1200 Adam Weston was the direct descendant at
the manor of Weston. By 1540 Sir William Weston was followed by the
Earl of Portland which became extinct by 1688. Meanwhile many junior
branches emerged including Sutton, Effingham, and Ockham, in Surrey,
West Horsley Place in Surrey, and Summerby in Lincolnshire.
Prominent amongst the family at this time was Earl of
Portland.
The
surname Weston contributed much to local politics and in the affairs
of England or Scotland. During the 11th and 12th centuries
many of these Norman families moved north to Scotland. Later in the
16th, 17th and 18th centuries England was ravaged by religious and
political conflict. The Monarchy, the Church and Parliament
fought for supremacy. Religious elements vied for control, the
State Church, the Roman Church and the Reform Church. All, in
their time, made demands on rich and poor alike. They broke
the spirit of men and many turned from religion, or alternatively,
renewed their faith, pursuing with vigour and ferocity, the letter
of ecclesiastical law. Many families were freely "encouraged"
to migrate to Ireland, or to the "colonies".
Non-believers or dissidents were banished, sometimes even
hanged.
The
settlers in Ireland became known as the "Adventurers for land
in Ireland". They undertook to keep the Protestant
faith. In Ireland they settled mainly in Ulster and Leinster.
The democratic attitudes of the new world spread like wildfire.
Many migrated aboard the fleet of sailing ships known as the "White
Sails". The stormy Atlantic, small pox, dysentery,
cholera, and typhoid took its toll on the settlers and many of these
tiny, overcrowded ships arrived with only 60 or 70% of their
passenger list. The migration or Banishment to the New World
continued, some voluntarily from Ireland, but mostly directly from
England or Scotland, their home territories. Some clans and
families even moved to continental Europe.
In North America, migrants which could be considered a kinsman of
the family name Weston, or variable spellings of that name included
Francis and Lucy Weston settled in Virginia in 1630; Joe Weston
settled in the Barbados in 1635; Thomas Weston settled in Main in
1623; William Weston settled in Virginia in 1623. From the
port of arrival many settlers joined the wagon trains westward.
During the American War of Independence some declared their loyalty
to the crown and moved northward into Canada and became known as the
United Empire Loyalists.
There were many notables of this name Weston, Sir Eric Weston; Rev.
Arthur Weston of Adelaide; Bertram Weston, horticulturist; Air
Marshal Sir John Weston; Garfield Weston, Chairman, Associated
British Foods; William Galen Weston, Chairman, George Weston Ltd.;
Grainger Weston, Texas landowner; Dr. John Weston G.M.; Admiral
William Weston.
In the process of
researching this distinguished family name was traced the most
ancient grant of Arms from the branches which developed their own
Arms. Which was:-
Silver with a black eagle displayed. The crest was a black eagle. Another crest was a Saracens head, couped , the tongue protruding proper, wreathed about the temples argent and azure.
Also the blazon of Arms is:- Ermine on a chief azure five
bezants.
The family motto was:-
"Aquila Non Capit Muscas" meaning "an
eagle doesn't catch flies" or in simple terms,
A noble or
important person doesn't deal with insignificant issues.
Blazon of Arms
At first, the coat of arms was a practical matter and served a function on the battlefield and in tournament. With his helmet covering his face, the armour encasing him from head to foot, the knights only means of identification to his followers was the insignia which was painted on his shield and embroidered on his surcoat, the flowing garment worn over armour. During the 13th century, Heralds became the acknowledged experts in the system of supervising and recording the signs on the shields that were known as armorials. Out of the age of chivalry, emerged from the tradition that takes our imagination back to the stirring and historic events and scenes of the middle ages.
Just how common is the surname Weston?
Find below occurrences of the place name mentioned in the Domesday book:-
County: Modern place name: The name in 1086
Bedfordshire Westoning Westone
Berkshire Weston Westun
Buckinghamshire Weston Turville Westone Weston Underwood Westone
Cambridgeshire Weston Colville Westone
Cheshire Weston Westone
Debyshire Weston Underwood Westune Weston upon Trent Westune
Devonshire Weston Peverel Westone/Westona
Gloucestershire Westonbirt Westone Weston Dovel Westone Weston Subedge Westone
Hampshire Weston Patrick Westone
Herefordshire Weston Westune Weston Beggard Westune Weston under Penyard Llangunllo Weston Westune
Hertfordshire Weston Westone
Huntingdonshire Hail Weston Westone/Westune Old Weston Westune
Leicestershire Weston Westone
Lincolnshire Weston Westune
Norfolk Weston Longville Westuna
Northamptonshire Weston by Welland Westone Weston Favell Westone
Nottinghamshire Weston Westone
Oxfordshire Weston on the Green Westone
Shropshire Weston Coton Westune Weston Rhyn Westone Weston under Redcastle Westune
Somerset Weston (near Bath) Westone/Westona Weston Bampfylde Westone/Westona Weston in Gordano Westone/Westona
Staffordshire Weston Coyney Westone Weston in Standon Westone Weston under Lizard Westone Weston-upon-Trent Westone
Suffolk Weston Westuna
Surrey Weston Westone
Warwickshire Weston in Arden Westone Weston-on-Avon Westone/Westune Weston under wetherly Westone
Yorkshire Weston Westone
If all these Local Weston surnames sprang up at the same time, it is highly likely that many people with the surname Weston are not even distantly related.