Weston Family Crest, Coat of Arms and Name History
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Learn MoreWeston Surname Name Meaning, Origin, History, & Etymology
This Anglo-Saxon surname derives from the Old English words west (est) and tun (settlement/enclosure), the name of various places and locales throughout Scotland and England, named for being a farm west of a village. There are over 50 places bearing this name in the British Isles. In Scotland, there are places and locales named Weston and Westoun in Lanarkshire, and a Weston near Dolphinston, Peeblesshire. It is the directional equivalent of the surnames Easton (east), Norton (north), and Sutton (south). The name referred to people who came from such areas. One of the earliest coats of arms granted to this family occurred in 1327, the blazon being a sable (black) shield with an argent (silver/white) eagle displayed with a label gules (red). The Westons of counties Surrey and Sussex descend from the house of De Wistoneston, or Wiston, of Wiston. Another source claims that the name was brought into the Norman Conquest of 1066 AD and lived in Staffordshire at a place called Weston-under-Lizard, wehre they held land and titles, granted lands as tenant in chief by William the Conqueror.
- effigy of Sir Hamo de Weston (1137-1214 AD), St Andrew, Weston Under Lizard, Staffordshire
credit: grave-mistakes.blogspot.com
- effigy of Sir Hugo de Weston (1250-1305), St Andrew, Weston Under Lizard, Staffordshire
credit: grave-mistakes.blogspot.com
Spelling Variations
Some spelling variants or names with similar etymologies include Westun, Westune, Wiston, Westone, Weeston, Weistone, Westown, and Weatson. It is also an English variant of the last name Whetstone.
Popularity & Geographic Distribution
The last name Weston ranks 1,308th in popularity in the United Status as of the 2000 Census. The name ranks particularly high in the following ten states: Idaho, Maine, Utah, Michigan, South Carolina, Missouri, Oregon, Arkansas, Idaho, and Montana.
The surname Weston frequency/commonness ranks as follows in the British Isles: England (330th), Scotland (1,051st), Wales (387th), Ireland (1,933rd) and Northern Ireland (2,133rd). In England, it ranks highest in county Leicestershire. In Scotland, the surname ranks highest in county Sutherland. In Wales, it ranks highest in Anglesey. In Ireland, it ranks highest in Kilkenny In Northern Ireland, it ranks highest in county Down.
The name is also present throughout the remainder English speaking world: Canada (1,670th), New Zealand (546th), Australia (428th), and South Africa (2,392nd).
Early Bearers of the Surname
The earliest known bearer of this surname was Godwinus de Westune, who was documented in the Domesday Book of Huntingdonshire in 1086 AD. Adam de la Weston was documented in Worcestershire in 1275 AD. Alan ate Weston was recorded in Sussex in 1327 AD. In Scotland, A one William de Westone of Wyggetone rendered homage in 1296 AD. His seal bears two squirrels facing each other, a small dog below. John of Westone was juror on an inquisition at Peebles, 1304 AD. A John de Westone was documented near Edinburgh, owning land in the tenement of Mertone in 1315 AD.
Weston Family Tree & Weston Genealogy
Weston of West Horsley
The Weston genealogy, lineage, or ancestry traces back to Adam de Weston of Surrey, who owned the manor of Weston in 1182 AD, and was the son Walter and grandson of Sir Ralph, Lord of Wistanestre Changton, Chittington, Heene, and Sussex, and great grandson of Radulphus de Weston (born around 1050 AD). His great grandson was Sir William de Weston, a Knight, who married Lady Joan, de (???) and had four sons with her: William (his heir), Walter (Reverend of Wernham), Thomas (Lord of the manor), and John. His heir was William de Weston, Esquire, Escheator to the King for Surry, Sussex, Middlesex, and Kent, who in 1293 AD, married Alice, daughter and co-heiress of Matthew de Boville of West Clandon, and had a son with her named William, who was Lord of West and West Clandon (married Margery, had sons named William, Edmund, and Richard). He secondly married Isabella, daughter and co-heiress of Walter Bur(??) of Horsham and had two sons with her: William and Walter. His son William, of Senge, married Amy, daughter of Sir Jacob de Norton, and had a son with her named William as well. This son, William de Weston, also of Sende, West Clandon and Parworth, who married Agnes, daughter and heir of Elie de Climsfield, and had issue with her named William and Robert His eldest son and heir, William Weston, was High Sheriff of Surrey and Sussex, who married Joan, daughter and heir of John Leghe of Cateshull, and had a son with her, also named William. This William was an Esquire of West Clandon who received Horsham and other lands from his father as gifts. He was High Sheriff for Surrey and Sussex in 1417 AD. He married a daughter of Thomas Harberger and had issue with her name. His son was William Weston, Esquire of Oakham and Sense, who was an Escheator of the King for Surrey and Sussex, in 1448, who married Margaret, daughter and co-heiress of Edmund Rich of Iver and Langley Marish. His son was John Weston, Esquire of Ockham and Sense, who had Horsham, Warnham, Heckinfield, and Sutton, Sussex in the 1400s. He married Margaret, daughter of John Mitford, and had sons with her named John and Thomas (of Chipsted). His son John was an Esquire of Ockham and Sende and he married Alice, daughter of William Edsawe of Petworth. Together they had a son named John, Esq. of Ockham, Sense, Horsham, and Warnham, who married (secondly) Juliana, daughter of Oliver Sandes of Shere, and had three sons with her. Several generations down the lineage came one Henry Weston, Esquire of West Horsley Place, son of Colonel John Samuel Henry Weston, who was born in 1825. In 1850, he married Frances Harriet, daughter of Augustus Hubbard La Fargue of Husband Bosworth, and had four issue with her: Henry MacGregor, Charles Edward, Walter John, and Frances Henrietta. His son Henry Macgreggor was an Esquire of West Horsley Place, Surrey, England who was born in May 1853. The Weston Coat of Arms (erroneously called the Weston Family Crest) is blazoned as follows: Sable, a chevron or, between three leopards’ heads erased argent crowned of the second, langued gules. Crest: A wolf passant argent ducally gorged or. Motto: Gloria sat Deus unus. This family was seated at West Horsley Place, near Ripley, Surrey, England.
Other Weston Pedigree & Family Trees
Edmund Weston was born in Shustoke, Warwickshire, England who was born in 1606 AD. He went to colonial America. He married Mary Delano (or Jane) and fathered the following children with her: Elnathan, Mary, Edmund, and John. His son Elnathan was born in Duxbury, Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1657. He had three issue: Samuel, Joseph, and Mary. His son Joseph was born in the same town in 1692. He married Mercy Peterson and had numerous issue with her as follows: Sarah (Chandler), Jane (Hunt), Thomas, Simeon, Jacob, Ichabod, William, Abigail (Freeman), and Zabdiel. His son Simeon Weston was born in Duxbury, MA in 1728. He married Honner Hunt and had issue with her: Levi and Lucy (Sampson). Levi was born in Doxbury in 1753. He married Olive Lock and had the following children with her: Susannah (Stimson), Jubal, and Martha (Corbett). His son Jubal was born in Hopkinton, MA in 1786. He married Clarissa Mellen and had the following issue with her: Aaron, Elizabeth Valentine McGowan, and Olive Locke. His son Aaron was born in 1814 and died in 1868 in California.
Early American and New World Settlers
William Weston was recorded as living in Virginia (“at Chaplains choise”) in February 1623. He came at the age of 25 aboard the Jonathan in May 1620.
Thomas Weston came to Virginia aboard the George in 1623.
Jesper Weston, age 27, came to Virginia aboard the Bonaventure in January 1634.
William Weston, age 30, came to Virginia aboard the Bonaventure in January 1634.
Joseph Weston, age 26, came to Virginia aboard the Peter Bonaventure in 1635.
William Weston, age 16, came to Virginia aboard the Peter Bonaventure in 1635.
Joseph Weston, age 41, came to the Barbados aboard the Alexander in May 1635.
Edmond Weston, age 30, came to New England aboard the Elizabeth & Ann in May 1635.
Sicillia Weston, age 37, came to Virginia aboard the Primrose in July 1635.
Joseph Weston, age 20, came to Virginia aboard the George in August 1635.
Josias Weston, age 25, came to the Barbados aboard the Expedition in November 1635.
Francis Weston owned 300 acres of land in Virginia in 1626 at “the Falles” by the James River.
Other early settlers in colonial America bearing this surname include Thomas Weston (Maine 1623), William Weston (Virginia 1623), Francis/Lucy Weston (Virginia 1630), Edmond Weston (New England 1635), Eliza Weston (Virginia 1714), Lewis Weston (Philadelphia 1736), Margaret (1766), Ann Weston (Carolina 1774), and Samuel Weston (New York 1789).
In Canada, one of the earliest settlers bearing this last name was Andrew Weston who came to the province of Nova Scotia in 1750. In Australia, one of the first bearers was John Weston, a convict from Kent, England who came to New South Wales (then a penal colony) aboard the Ann in 1809. In New Zealand, a one Samuel Weston came to the city of Auckland in 1840.
- Roswell Weston (1774-1861), American lawyer & politician from New York
- William Pritchard Weston (1804-1830), 3rd Premier of Tasmania
Early Americans Bearing the Weston Family Crest
Charles Bolton’s American Armory (1927), Crozier’s General Armory (1904), and Matthew’s American Armoury and Bluebook (1907) do not contain an entry for this surname.
Mottoes
I have identified five Weston family mottoes:
1) Semper sursum (Always aim high)
2) Aquila non capit muscas (The eagle catcheth not flies)
3) Any boro (???)
4) Craignes honte (Fear shame)
5) Gloria sat Deus unus (God alone if sufficient glory)
Grantees
We have 40 coats of arms for the Weston surname depicted here. These 40 blazons are from Bernard Burke’s book The General Armory of England, Ireland, and Scotland, which was published in 1848. The bottom of this page contains the blazons, and in many instances contains some historical, geographical, and genealogical about where coat of arms was found and who bore it. People with this last name that bore an Weston Coat of Arms (or mistakenly called the Family Crest)
1) Stephen Weston, Bishop of Exeter, 14 May 1725
2) Weston after Webbe, John, of county Hereford, 1782
3) Weston (-West), of Conntesbury, county Devon, 1817
4) Sir Joseph D. Weston, Mayor of Bristol, of Dorset House, Clifton, Bristol, 1883
Notables
There are hundreds of notable people with the Weston surname. This page will mention a handful. Famous people with this last name include: 1) Kim Weston (1939) was an American soul and Motown singer born in Detroit, MI known for hits such as Take Me in Your Arms, 2) Dave Weston who is was the singer and guitarist for the Pennsylvania punk/indie/pop band Weston, 3) Sir Francis Weston (1511-1536) who was a gentlemen in the Privy Chamber of King Henry VIII of England who executed after being accused of treason and adultery with Anne Boleyn, 4) Rear Admiral Charles Arthur Winfield Weston (1922-1998) who was a Royal Naval officer that served as President of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, England who served in World War II, 5) Edward Weston (1850-1936) who was an American chemist born in Oswestry, Shropshire, England who is best known for his contributions to electroplating and the electrochemical cell, 6) Stephen Weston (1665-1742) who was the Bishop of Exeter who was born in Farnborough, 7) Sir Joseph Dodge Weston (1822-1895) who was an English merchant and shipping magnate who was also a Liberal politician who served in the House of Commons and was born in Kingsdown, Bristol, 8) George Frederick Weston (1925-2009) who was an English author and chemist from Catford, London who is most well-known for his work on cold cathode glow discharge devices, 9) James Adams Weston (1827-1895) who was an civil engineer and banker who became the mayor of Manchester and the 33rd Governor of New Hampshire in 1874, and 10) John F. Weston (1845-1917) who was an American General who served in the Civil War (on the Union side) and the Spanish-American War and received the Medal of Honor, born in Kentucky.
- Sir Francis Weston (1500s), son of Sir Richard
- Joseph Dodge Weston, Esq. (1822-1895), Mayor of Bristol
credit: davenapier.co.uk/mayors/weston.htm
- James W. Weston, Mayor of Salford
credit: Salford Museum & Art Gallery
- Sir William Weston (d. 1540) at St. James Church Priory, Cerkenwell, London
credit: carvedcadavers.wixsite.com/eccm/about2-c5qy
Blazons & Genealogy Notes
2) (Weston-under-Lyzard, co. Stafford, temp. Henry II.; of the race of Reginald de Bailleul, of Bailleul en Gouffern, near Argentan, Normandy, who at Domesday held in capite the manors of Weston, Berton, Broton, and Newton, co. Stafford; vide “Westonorum antiquissimae; et equestris familise. genealogia et prosapia,” by Sir William Segar, Garter, 1632, in the Select MSS. Department, British Museum. An incorrect outline of this pedigree, lacking, moreover, the third descent, that of Ralph, son of Hugh, and father of Hamo de Bailleul, Dominus de Weston temp, Henry II., is to be found in “Erdeswicke’s History of co. Stafford,” by Harwood, 1844. Sir Hamo de Bailleul et de Weston was the first who became known by the name of the most important of the English manors held by him; Sir Hamo de Weston, Dominus de Weston, &c., co. Stafford, temp. Henry II., and Adam de Weston, cos. Stafford and Surrey, 6 King John, bore, Ar. an eagle displ. sa.
- Sutton Place (c. 1525 AD)
3) (Weston-under-Lyzard, co. Stafford; Sir John de Weston, Knt., Dominus de Weston-under-Lyzard, co. Stafford, temp. Edward III.). Sa. an eagle displ. ar. a label gu.
4) (Rugeley, co. Stafford, temp. Henry VI.; descended from and representing the Weston-under-Lyzard family. The Rugeley branch, in its turn, became extinct in this century). Or, an eagle displ. reguard. sa. Crest—An eagle rising reguard. sa.
5) (Lichfield, co. Stafford, temp. Henry VIII.; John Weston, fourth son of John Weston, of Rugeley). Quarterly, 1st and 4th, or, an eagle displ. reguard. sa.; 2nd and 3rd, erm. on a chief az. five bezants.
6) (Lichfield, co. Stafford; Sir James Weston, temp. Charles I., direct descendant of John Weston, of Lichfield, temp. Henry VIII.). Same Arms. Crest—An eagle’s head or, beaked gu. a crescent for diff.
7) (Lane House and Wolveton, co. Dorset; Henry Weston, d. 1705, direct descendant of John Weston, of Lichfield, temp. Henry VIII. Owing to the elder branches having become extinct, William Henry Purcell Weston, Esq., of Wolveton, co. Dorset, now represents the family of Weston, of Weston-under-Lyzard, co. Stafford). Quarterly, 1st and 4th, or, an eagle displ. sa.; 2nd and 3rd, erm. on a chief az. five bezants. Crest—An eagle rising sa. beaked and membered or. Crest (of the middle period) —A Saracen’s head affrontée filleted ar. and az. Motto—Aquila non capit muscas.
- Sir Richard III Weston (1591-1652) of Sutton Place
8) (Sir William Weston, Prior of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem in England at the suppression by Henry VIII. in 1540, son of Edmund Weston, Esq., of Boston, co. Lincoln, a younger branch of the co. Stafford family, and brother of Sir Richard Weston, who built Sutton Place in that reign. Arms from a drawing of the banner, &c., of Sir William Weston in Harl. MSS., and in “Description of the Standards borne in the field by Peers and Knights in the reign of Henry VIII.,” in the College of Arms, in which MS. a drawing of the standard of Sir Richard Weston, of Sutton, is also given). Quarterly, 1st and 4th, erm. on a chief az. five bezants; 2nd and 3rd, ar. three camels sa. Crest—A Saracen’s bead affrontée filleted or and vert. Motto—Any boro.
9) (Earl of Portland, extinct 1688; descended from John Weston, of Lichfield, fourth son of John Weston, of Rugeley, temp. Henry VIII.; Sir Richard Weston, Chancellor of the Exchequer temp. James I., was created Baron Weston 1628, and Earl of Portland and K.G. 1633; the fourth earl d.s.p.). Quarterly, 1st and 4th, or, an eagle displ. reguard. sa.; 2nd and 3rd, erm. on a chief az. five bezants. Crest—An eagle rising reguard. sa. beaked and legged or. Supporters—Two greyhounds sa. collared and ringed or. Motto—Craignes honte.
10) (co. Bedford). Ar. a bend cotised sa. a border of the last bezantée.
11) (Colleton, co. Devon; John Weston, Esq., of Colleton, temp. Queen Elizabeth, great-grandson of John Weston, of same place, whose father, Robert Weston, was of Lemshersoare, in Wales. Visit. Devon, 1620). Ar. on a chev. sa. three leopards’ faces or. Crest—A cock ppr. wattled gu.
12) (Weston-at-the-Gate, or Weston, alias Atgate). (Brightwell, co. Bucks). Sa. ten bezants, four, three, two, and one, on a chief erm. three lozenges gu.
13) (cos. Devon and Wilts). Ar. a fess sa. on a border gu. eight bezants.
- Richard Weston, 1st Earl of Portland (1577–1635)
credit: Bodleian Libraries
14) (Heath-Ham, co. Dorset). Ar. on a chev. sa. three leopards’ faces or.
15) (Weston, co. Dorset). Ar. a chev. per pale engr. az. and gu. in chief two roses of the second and in base as many of the third.
16) (Hanam, co. Gloucester). Az. on a plate betw. three fleurs-de-lis ar. a mullet sa.
17) (co. Leicester). Az. a wheel betw. three fleurs-de-lis or.
18) (West Horsley Place, co. Surrey). Sa. a chev. or, betw. three leopards’ heads erased ar. qrowned or, langued gu. Crest—A wolf pass. ar. ducally gorged or. Motto—Gloria sat Deus unus.
19) (Somerby, co. Lincoln; Stephen Weston was Bishop of Exeter, 1724-42). Ar. a cross calvary gu. a chief az. charged with five bezants.
20) (Thorpe, co. Norfolk; descended from Charles Weston, Esq., m. Mary, co-heiress of Miles Bbanthwayt, Esq., of Taverham, co. Norfolk). Quarterly, 1st and 4th, or, an eagle displ. ea., for Weston; 2nd and 3rd, or, two bendlets engr. sa., for Branthwayt. Crest—A demi eagle displ. sa.
21) (Effingham, co. Surrey). Sa. a chev. betw. Three talbots’ heads erased or. Crest—A wolf pass. ar. ducally gorged or.
22) (Ockham, co. Stirrey, 1700). Sa. a chev. betw. three lions’ heads erased ar. Crest—A wolf’s head couped sa.
23) or Wiston – (co. Sussex, 23 Henry II.). Erm. on a bend az. three lions’ heads erased or.
24) Gu. on an inescutcheon ar. within an entoire of five bezants a fess sa.
25) Sa. a maunch ar.
26) Quarterly, per fess indented az. and gu. a bend ar.
27) Sa. a chev. betw. three holly leaves ar.
- Charles Weston (1639–1665), 3rd Duke of Portland
credit: National Maritime Museum
28) Sa. a chev. or, betw. three lions’ heads erased ar.
29) Per saltire ar. and sa. in chief and in base a cross pattee of the second.
30) Erm. on a bend gu. three lions’ heads erased or.
31) Ar. a chev. per pale or and gu.
32) Az. a mullet betw. three fleurs-de-lis ar.
33) Ar. a fess sa. a border engr. gu.
34) (Sutton, co. Surrey; descended from Hayleric de Weston, temp. Henry I. The last heir male in the direct line, John Weston, Esq., of Sutton, d. in 1730, leaving an only dau. and heiress, Melior Mary, who d. unm. in 1782, and devised her estates to her kinsman, John Webb, Esq., of Sarnsfield Court, co. Hereford, who assumed, in consequence, the additional surname and arms of Weston. He was grandson of John Webb, Esq., of London, by Bridget, his wife, dau. of John Wolfe, by Anne Pinchon, his wife, granddau. of Sir Edward Pinchon, and Dorothy, his wife, sister of Richard Weston, Earl of Portland). Erm. on a chief az. five bezants. Crest—A Saracen’s head couped, the tongue protruding ppr. wreathed about the temples ar. and az.
35) (West Horsley, co. Surrey; descended from Adam de Weston, of co. Surrey, living at Weston temp. King John). Sa. three leopards’ faces ar. crowned or, langued gu. Crest—A wolf pass. ar. ducally gorged or.
36) (Stephen Weston, Bishop of Exeter 1724-42). Ar. a cross calvary gu. on a chief az. five bezants.
37) (Richard Weston, Lord Chancellor ol Ireland, 1567-73; Reg. Ulster’s Office). Erm. a martlet gu. on a chief az. four bezants. Crest—An eagle reguard. wings expanded sa.
38) (Sir Simon Weston, knighted by Robert, Earl of Essex, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, 1599). Quarterly, 1st and 4th, or, an eagle displ. sa.; 2nd and 3rd, erm. on a chief az. five bezants in fess.
- Stephen Weston (1665–1742), Bishop of Exeter
credit: The Palace, Exeter
39) (Dublin; Nicholas Weston, Mayor of Dublin, 1597, fourth son of John Weston, Alderman of Drogheda. Visit, city of Dublin, 1607). Gu. crusily fitchee ar. a lion ramp. of the last, armed and langued az. a border erm. Crest—A demi lion ramp. ar. supporting betw. the paws a cross cross-let fitchee gu.
40) (Reg. Ulster’s Office). Per pale gu. and or, a chev. counterchanged.
