| ![Show Contents]() Castan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Etymology of CastanWhat does the name Castan mean? In ancient Scotland, Castan was a Strathclyde-Briton name for someone who lived in Dumfriesshire, where the first mention of the family was of Morris Acarson, Bailiff of the Isle of Man, appointed by King Alexander I of Scotland about 1100 A.D. This is the same person as Mauritius Okarefair. 1 The family "was provosts of Dumfries for several generations and were also prominent in local affairs of Kirkcudbrightshire. No value need be attached to the tradition of descent from an Italian named Corsini reputed to have been brought to Scotland by Dervorgilla to superintend the building of Sweetheart Abbey. Everything points to native origin. " 1 Early Origins of the Castan familyThe surname Castan was first found in Dumfriesshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Dhùn Phris), a Southern area, bordering on England that today forms part of the Dumfries and Galloway Council Area, where they are believed to be descended from the Irish Clan MacCarrghama of the Hy Fiachra and arrived on the south west Scottish coast about the 9th century. Sir Robert de Acarson (or de Carsan), a cleric witnessed a charter of Holm Cultram in 1276 and it may be the same Robert de Carsan who rendered homage to Edward I in 1296. 1 "Laughlan, son of Laughlan de Carsan and Dovenald, son of Thomas de Carsan were among some Galloway hostages lodged in Carlisle. In 1305 John Acarson and others took the castle of Dumfries from its garrison. Morice Acrassane and Gilbert were jurors on an inquisition at Drumfrese, 1367." 1 Early History of the Castan familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Castan research. Another 270 words (19 lines of text) covering the years 1180, 1296, 1305, 1373, 1374, 1377, 1394, 1445, 1453, 1503, 1531, 1665, 1772, 1776, 1780, 1799, 1808, 1843, 1844, 1850 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Castan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Castan Spelling VariationsPrior to the first dictionaries, scribes spelled words according to sound. This, and the fact that Scottish names were repeatedly translated from Gaelic to English and back, contributed to the enormous number of spelling variations in Scottish names. Castan has been spelled Carson, Carsen and others. Early Notables of the Castan familyNotable amongst the family at this time was Aglionby Ross Carson (1780-1850), Scottish classical scholar and rector of the high school of Edinburgh, was born at Holywood, Dumfriesshire. Alexander Carson (1776-1844), was an Irish Baptist minister, born near Stewartstown, co. Tyrone, in 1776. His parents were Scottish Calvinistic Presbyterians, settled in Ireland, who consecrated their son to the ministry at an early age.James Carson (1772-1843), was a Scottish physician who was originally educated for the ministry, but his inclination leading him to the study of physic, he attended medical classes at Edinburgh, and graduated doctor of medicine there in the autumn...
Another 160 words (11 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Castan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Castan RankingIn France, the name Castan is the 3,436th most popular surname with an estimated 2,000 - 2,500 people with that name. 2 Migration of the Castan family to IrelandSome of the Castan family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 129 words (9 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Castan migration to the United States | + |
In such difficult times, the difficulties of raising the money to cross the Atlantic to North America did not seem so large compared to the problems of keeping a family together in Scotland. It was a journey well worth the cost, since it was rewarded with land and freedom the Scots could not find at home. The American War of Independence solidified that freedom, and many of those settlers went on to play important parts in the forging of a great nation. Among them:
Castan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Bernardo Castan, aged 50, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1829 3
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: Ne m'oubliez
Motto Translation: Don't forget me.
- 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)
- http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
- 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)
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