Austin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Portugal
Scotland
Ireland

Etymology of Austin

What does the name Austin mean?

Among the clans of the Scottish/English Borderlands, the Strathclyde Britons were the first to use the name Austin. It is derived from the Gaelic Mac Austain meaning "son of Austin."

Early Origins of the Austin family

The surname Austin was first found in Scotland where "the Austins appear first on record as allies and supporters of the Keiths. The name was variously spelt, though in ancient records it was generally begun with Ou or Ow. Of curious interest as showing an early connection between the families is the occurrence in 1587 of the name of Alexander Ousteane, burgess of Edinburgh, as one of the cautioners for George Keith, Earl Marshall, in an action raised against him, by Margaret Erskine, Lady Pitcarie. In the same year Alexander Oisteane, no doubt the same person, was a parliamentary representative of the Burgh of Edinburgh. In 1589 Walter Oustene, a tenant in Lochquhan (a possession of the Keith family), was one of the subscribers to a Bond of Caution imposed on a number of the landed men in the shires of Aberdeen and Kincardine, binding them to keep the peace in the struggles with the Catholic party beaded by Huntly" (D. W. Stewart, Old and rare Scottish tartans). " 1

Early History of the Austin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Austin research. Another 151 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1376, 1448, 1503, 1566, 1574, 1583, 1584, 1593, 1594, 1676, 1681, 1699, 1755, 1800, 1820 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Austin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Austin Spelling Variations

Medieval Scottish names are rife with spelling variations. This is due to the fact that scribes in that era spelled according to the sound of words, rather than any set of rules. Austin has been spelled Austin, Austins, Austen, Austeane, Ostian, Ousteane, Owstyne, Ostiane and many more.

Early Notables of the Austin family

Notable amongst the family at this time was

John Austin (fl. 1820), a Scotch inventor and native of Craigton...
Austin, Glasgow...

Austin World Ranking

In the United States, the name Austin is the 196^th most popular surname with an estimated 129,324 people with that name. 2 However, in Canada, the name Austin is ranked the 670^th most popular surname with an estimated 7,825 people with that name. 3 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Austin is the 641^st popular surname with an estimated 69 people with that name. 4 Australia ranks Austin as 278^th with 12,519 people. 5 New Zealand ranks Austin as 251^st with 2,407 people. 6 The United Kingdom ranks Austin as 255^th with 23,467 people. 7

Migration of the Austin family to Ireland

Some of the Austin family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Austin migration to the United States +

Many Scots were left with few options other than to leave their homeland for the colonies across the Atlantic. Some of these families fought to defend their newfound freedom in the American War of Independence. Others went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. The ancestors of all of these families have recently been able to rediscover their roots through Clan societies and other Scottish organizations. Among them:

Austin Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Edward Austin, aged 26, who landed in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Speedwell" 8
Jo Austin, aged 24, who landed in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Elizabeth" 8
Mr. Austin, who arrived in Virginia in 1637 8
Francis Austin, who landed in Dedham, Massachusetts in 1638 8
Mr. Richard Austin, (b. 1598), aged 40, British tailor from Bishop's Stoke, Hampshire traveling aboard the ship "Bevis" arriving in New England in 1638 with his wife and 2 children heading to Charlestown 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Austin Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

George Austin, who arrived in Charleston, South Carolina in 1734 8
Adam Austin, who arrived in Charles Town, South Carolina in 1782 8
David Austin, an early saddle-bag preacher who was ordained in the Presbytery of New York in 1788
J Austin, who landed in Mississippi in 1798 8

Austin Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

John Austin, the great grandfather of Rutherford Hayes, known as the "Forgotten President of the U.S.A."
Charles Austin, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1825 8
Mr. William Austin, (b. 1799), aged 33, Cornish gardener departing from Plymouth aboard the ship "Andromeda" arriving in the United States on 10th May 1832 10
E T Austin, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1850 8
B C Austin, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1850 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Austin Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Mr. Thomas H Austin, (b. 1881), aged 22, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "New York" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 12th September 1903 en route to Calumet, Michigan, UCA 11

Austin migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Austin Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Catherine Austin, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1749
Mr. Caleb Austin, U.E., United Empire Loyalist, who settled in Carleton, Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1783 12
Mr. Chris Austin, Jr., U.E., United Empire Loyalist, who settled in Eastern District, Upper Canada c. 1783 he was widowed before settling 12
Mr. James Austin, U.E., United Empire Loyalist, who arrived at Port Roseway [Shelburne], Nova Scotia on December 13, 1783 was passenger number 352 on board the "HMS Clinton", picked up on November 14, 1783 at East River New York 12
Mr. Joel Austin, U.E., United Empire Loyalist, who settled in Home District, South Central Ontario c. 1783 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Austin Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Isaac Austin, who arrived in Canada in 1828
James Austin, aged 30, a shoemaker, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "Elizabeth" from Galway, Ireland
Jane Austin, aged 25, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "Elizabeth" from Galway, Ireland
Benjamin Austin, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1837
Hiram Austin, who arrived in Canada in 1841
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Austin migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Austin Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. James Austin, (b. 1776), aged 27, English farmer who was convicted in Somerset, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Calcutta" in February 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1831 13
Thomas Austin, English convict from Norfolk, who was transported aboard the "Ann" on August 1809, settling in New South Wales, Australia 14
Mr. William Austin, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" in May 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 15
Mr. David Austin, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Dromedary" on 11th September 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 16
Mr. John Austin, Welsh convict who was convicted in Denbigh, Denbighshire, Wales for 7 years, transported aboard the "Claudine" on 20th May 1821, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 17
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Austin 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:

Austin Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Robert Austin, aged 39, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Jane Gifford" in 1842 18
Ann Austin, aged 33, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Jane Gifford" in 1842 18
Elizabeth Austin, aged 13, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Jane Gifford" in 1842 18
Robert Austin, aged 11, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Jane Gifford" in 1842 18
John Austin, aged 17, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Jane Gifford" in 1842 18
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Austin migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 19

Austin Settlers in West Indies in the 18th Century

Hugh Williams Austin, who landed in Barbados in 1779 8

Contemporary Notables of the name Austin (post 1700) +

Dennis Austin (1947-2023), American computer programmer, co-creator of Microsoft PowerPoint
Alfredo Federico López Austin (1936-2021), Mexican historian who wrote extensively on the Aztec worldview and on Mesoamerican religion, winner of the National Prize for Arts and Sciences in Fine Arts in 2020
Lloyd James Austin III (b. 1953), American retired four-star Army general who is the 28th Secretary of Defense of the United States, the first African American to hold the position
Gary Austin (1941-2017), born Gary Moore, an American improvisational theatre teacher, writer, and director
Tracy Ann Austin (b. 1962), American former World No. 1 female professional tennis player
Gene Austin (1900-1972), American singer and songwriter
Charles Austin (b. 1967), American Gold Medal winning high jumper
John Langshaw Austin (1911-1960), British philosopher who taught at Oxford
Paul Britten Austin (1922-2005), English author, translator, broadcaster, administrator, and scholar of Swedish literature
Vince Austin (1972-2024), Canadian professional wrestler
... (Another 13 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Austin family +

Halifax Explosion

Mrs. Margaret M Austin (1861-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 20

HMS Dorsetshire

Joseph Austin (d. 1945), British Warrant Officer Gunner aboard the HMS Dorsetshire when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he died in the sinking 21

HMS Hood

Mr. Albert G L Austin (b. 1906), English Able Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 22

HMS Repulse

Mr. John Sydney Austin, Australian Midshipman from Australia, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 23

USS Arizona

Mr. Laverne Alfred Austin, American Seaman First Class from New York, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 24

Vimy Ridge

A. E. Austin (1887-1917), Canadian Private in the 4th Battalion who died at Vimy Ridge April 1917
J. Austin (d. 1917), Canadian Private in the 50th Battalion who died at Vimy Ridge April 1917
Norman Austin (1893-1917), Canadian loco fireman, Private in the 44th Battalion from Manitoba who died at Vimy Ridge January 1917

The Austin 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: Crux nostra corona
Motto Translation: The cross is our crown.

Citations +

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)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's. Retrieved October 6th 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to New York 1820 - 1891 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_new_york_1820_1891.pdf
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retreived 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/calcutta
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Ann voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1809 with 200 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/ann/1809
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 1st March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dromedary
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th February 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/claudine
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
Force Z Survivors HMS Dorsetshire Crew List, (Retrieved 2018, February 13th), https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listdorsetshirecrew.html
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html