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Show ContentsPreston History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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Etymology of Preston

What does the name Preston mean?

Preston is a name that was carried to England in the great wave of migration from Normandy following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Preston family lived Lincolnshire, at Preston, from where they derived their name. The name Preston comes from the Old English words preost, meaning priest, and tun, meaning enclosure or settlement. 1 "Thirty-five parishes and places are named [Preston] in the Gazetteer, and there are many others in various counties. The origin of the name, from preostes-tun. 'the priest's enclosure or homestead ' is undoubted." 2

Early Origins of the Preston family

The surname Preston was first found in Lincolnshire, where Laurence de Preston was one of the first records of the name. Peter de Prestun was listed as a Knights Templar in Yorkshire in 1185. 3

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 also list Alice de Preston in Northamptonshire. Years later the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Johannes de Pryston and Isabella de Preston. 4

The Scottish branch of the family was established long ago and in this case, the family claim descent from "the barony of Preston or Prestoun, afterwards known as Gourtoun and now Craigmillar in Midlothian. Alured de Preston appears as a charter witness in 1222, and Lyulph, son of Lyulph de Preston, c. 1240-50, had a charter from John Albus of a piece of land in Linlithgow which lie made over to the Abbey of Neubotel. Johannes de Prestun witnessed a quitclaim by Johannes Gallard apud Muskilburg in 1248. Alured de Preston appears as a charter witness in 1222, and Lyulph, son of Lyulph de Preston, c. 1240-50, had a charter from John Albus of a piece of land in Linlithgow which lie made over to the Abbey of Neubotel. Johannes de Prestun witnessed a quitclaim by Johannes Gallard apud Muskilburg in 1248." 5

"Beeston Hall, a Gothic mansion in a small park [in Beeston, Norfolk], has long been the residence of the Prestons, one of whom, Jacob Preston, received an emerald ring, still preserved in the family, from Charles I. when upon the scaffold, as a last tribute of affection." 6

This latter source also notes that some of the family were found in the hamlet of Meerbeck in the West Riding of Yorkshire: "Here is the seat of John Preston, Esq., whose family have been settled in this part of the West riding for more than four centuries." 6

Gilbert de Preston (died 1274) was Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas, son of Walter de Preston (d. 1230), or Walter Fitz Winemar, who was sheriff of Northamptonshire in 1207 and 1208. 7

Robert Preston, 1st Baron Gormanston (died 1396) was an Anglo-Irish nobleman, statesman and judge of the fourteenth century. For a brief period, he was Lord Chancellor of Ireland. He was the founder of the leading Anglo-Irish Preston family whose titles included Viscount Gormanston and Viscount Tara. He was the son of Roger de Preston (died 1346) who was the son of Adam de Preston, a wealthy merchant from Preston, Lancashire.

Early History of the Preston family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Preston research. Another 196 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1207, 1208, 1212, 1227, 1228, 1230, 1274, 1291, 1332, 1362, 1366, 1372, 1382, 1415, 1421, 1453, 1503, 1538, 1570, 1581, 1582, 1584, 1585, 1587, 1588, 1595, 1596, 1597, 1601, 1603, 1609, 1616, 1617, 1619, 1628, 1637, 1655, 1659, 1688, 1706, 1715, 1720, 1745, 1748, 1753, 1807, 1826, 1827 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Preston History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Preston Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Preston include Prestone, Preston, Presson and others.

Early Notables of the Preston family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

  • John de Prestone, Lord Mayor of London in 1332; Sir Amyas Preston of Somerset (died 1617), English naval commander; Robert Preston, British MP for Westmorland in 1421; Robert Preston, 1st Viscount Gor...
  • Sir John Preston (fl 1415), was an English judge member of an ancient Westmorland family seated at Preston Richard and Preston Patrick in the southern part of the county
  • Sir Simon Preston (fl. 1538-1570), of Preston and Craigmillar, provost of Edinburgh in the time of Mary Queen of Scots, was descended from a family who possessed the lands of Preston, Midlothian, from...
  • John Preston D.D. (1587-1628), was an English Puritan divine, son of Thomas Preston, a farmer, was born at Upper Heyford in the parish of Bugbrook, Northamptonshire
  • George Preston (1659-1748) was Governor of Edinburgh Castle at the time of the rebellions in 1715 and 1745. He was the second son of George Preston - sixth of Valleyfield, descended from the Prestons...
  • Sir John Preston (died 1616), of Fentonburns and Penicuik, was Lord President of the Scottish Court of Session. 7

Preston World Ranking

In the United States, the name Preston is the 639th most popular surname with an estimated 47,253 people with that name. 8 However, in Canada, the name Preston is ranked the 884th most popular surname with an estimated 6,049 people with that name. 9 And in Australia, the name Preston is the 468th popular surname with an estimated 8,051 people with that name. 10 New Zealand ranks Preston as 342nd with 1,841 people. 11 The United Kingdom ranks Preston as 297th with 20,252 people. 12

Migration of the Preston family to Ireland

Some of the Preston family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 89 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Preston migration to the United States +

In England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Prestons to arrive on North American shores:

Preston Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Mr. Robert Preson, aged 25, who arrived in Jamestown, Virginia aboard the ship "Discovery" in 1621 13
  • Mr. Edward Preston, aged 13, who arrived in New England aboard the ship "The Christian" in 1634 13
  • John Preston, who sailed to Virginia in 1634
  • Roger Preston, aged 21, tanner who arrived in New England aboard the ship "Elizabeth" in 1635, bound for Ipswich
  • Joseph Preston, aged 20, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Thomas"
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Preston Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Eliza Preston, who arrived in Virginia in 1714 14
  • Captain Preston, who arrived in Boston in 1765
  • Jedediah Preston, who arrived in New England in 1770 14
Preston Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Alexander Preston, aged 29, who arrived in Tennessee in 1812 14
  • John Preston, who landed in Charleston, South Carolina in 1834 14
  • Mrs. Patience Preston, aged 58, British mason who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Rochester" on 20th May 1841
  • George Preston, who landed in New York in 1842 14
  • James Preston, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1850 14

Preston migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Preston Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mr. Thomas Preston U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 he became a Freeman in 1790 as a Mason 15
Preston Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Mrs. Mary Preston, aged 58 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Naomi" departing 15th June 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 10th August 1847 but she died on board 16
  • Mr. Patrick Preston, aged 3 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Naomi" departing 15th June 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 10th August 1847 but he died on board 16
  • Mr. Richard Preston, aged 20 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Naomi" departing 15th June 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 10th August 1847 but he died on board 16

Preston migration to Australia +

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

Preston Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Miss Mary Preston, (b. 1790), aged 20, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Canada" in March 1810, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died in 1852 17
  • Mr. Thomas Preston, English convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Baring" in December 1818, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 18
  • Joseph Preston, English convict from Middlesex, who was transported aboard the "Asia" on September 3rd, 1820, settling in New South Wales, Australia 19
  • Mr. George Preston, British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Countess of Harcourt" on 8th April 1821, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 20
  • Thomas Preston, English convict from Middlesex, who was transported aboard the "Arab" on July 3, 1822, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 21
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Preston 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:

Preston Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Elizabeth Preston, aged 21, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Stately" in 1851
  • Miss Eliza Preston, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Stately" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 1st June 1851 22
  • Mr. John Preston, British settler travelling from Liverpool aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 19th October 1859 23
  • John Preston, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Mermaid" in 1859 24
  • Mrs. Preston, British travelling from London aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 8th January1869 23
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Preston 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. 25
Preston Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • Mr. Richard Preston, (b. 1614), aged 21, British settler traveling aboard the ship "Paul of London" arriving in St Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635 26
  • Mr. Mathew Preston, aged 22 who arrived in St. Kitts (St Christopher) aboard the ship "Amity" in 1635 27

Contemporary Notables of the name Preston (post 1700) +

  • June Preston (1928-2022), American child actress, a child star rival to Shirley Temple and later she was soprano singer in the United States, Latin America and Europe
  • Robert F. Preston (1929-2021), American businessman and politician, born in Lowell, Massachusetts, Member of the New Hampshire Senate in 1964 and again (1972-1990)
  • Kelly Preston (1962-2020), American actress and former model, wife of John Travolta 28
  • Private Herbert Irving Preston (1876-1928), American Marine awarded the Medal of Honor
  • Lewis Thompson Preston (b. 1926), American banker, President of the World Bank (1991-1995)
  • Robert Preston (1918-1987), American Academy Award nominated actor and singer, best remembered for his role as Harold Hill in the 1957 musical The Music Man
  • Billy Preston (1946-2006), American Rhythm & Blues player of organ, keyboards, and piano
  • John Smith Preston (1809-1881), American lawyer and Confederate general in the American Civil War
  • James Patton Preston (1774-1853), American politician, who served as the governor of Virginia (1816-1819)
  • Commander Arthur Murray Preston (1913-1968), United States Navy officer awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1944
  • ... (Another 19 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Air New Zealand Flight 901
  • Mr. Robert John Preston (d. 1979), New Zealander passenger, from, Auckland, New Zealand aboard the Air New Zealand Flight 901 for an Antarctic sightseeing flight when it flew into Mount Erebus; he died in the crash 29
Empress of Ireland
  • Mr. John Edwin Preston (d. 1914), British Inspector from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 30
Halifax Explosion
HMS Cornwall
  • William Henry Preston, British Warrant Officer Engineer aboard the HMS Cornwall (1942) when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he survived the sinking 32
HMS Repulse
  • Mr. Walter A Preston, British Stoker, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 33
HMS Royal Oak
  • Frederick Henry Preston (1906-1939), British Sergeant with the Royal Marine aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 34
Monongah Mine
  • Mr. Jonathan H. Preston (b. 1866), African American coal miner who was in mine 8 at the Monongah Mine on 6th December 1907 when it exploded and collapsed; he died 35
RMS Titanic
  • Mr. John Federick Preston (d. 1912), aged 30, English Bassist from Liverpool, Lancashire who played aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking and was recovered by CS Mackay-Bennett 36
  • Mr. Thomas Charles Alfred Preston, aged 20, English Greaser from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking escaping on collapsible B 36

The Preston 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: Si Dieu Veult
Motto Translation: If God wills it.
  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  5. 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)
  6. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  7. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  8. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  9. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  10. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  11. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  12. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  13. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  14. 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)
  15. 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
  16. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 92)
  17. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/canada
  18. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
  19. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Asia 1 voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1820 with 192 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1820
  20. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/countess-of-harcourt
  21. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Arab voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1822 with 155 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/arab/1822
  22. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  23. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  24. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 5th November 2010). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  25. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  26. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's (Retrieved October 4th 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  27. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's. Retrieved January 6th 2023 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  28. Kelly Preston. (Retrieved 2011, January 21) Kelly Preston. Retrieved from http://www.kellypreston.com
  29. Mount Erebus, Memorial, Roll of Remembrance (Retrieved 2018, February 21st). Retrieved from http://www.erebus.co.nz/memorialandawards/rollofremembrance.aspx
  30. Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
  31. 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
  32. Force Z Survivors Crew List HMS Cornwall (Retrieved 2018, February 13th) - Retrieved from https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listcornwallcrew.html#A
  33. HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
  34. Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
  35. Monongah Mining Disaster retrieved on 8th August 2021. Retrieved from https://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/monongah.htm
  36. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html

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