Surname de Owston - Meaning and Origin
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de Owston: What does the surname de Owston mean?
The last name de Owston is an Anglicized version of an Old French name, de Audeville. It is thought to come from the French words 'audeville' which means 'old hall'. This suggests that the de Owston family may have come from a French noble family that was associated with an old hall or manor.
The de Owston family may have been part of the traditional aristocratic structure in France, with their name representing some sort of seated nobility. They may have owned farms, land, or other resources of some significance and were likely well-respected in their region.
In the Middle Ages, there were numerous families in France with the surname de Owston, some of whom moved to the British Isles during the reign of William the Conqueror. By the 13th century, the surname had spread all across Britain and had anglicized to Owston. There are now many variations of the name, including some who spell it as de Ouston.
The surname de Owston reflects the changing culture and social structure of Europe over the centuries, and the family’s contribution to the wider population. The name has become an integral part of many English and French surnames today.
Order DNA origin analysisde Owston: Where does the name de Owston come from?
The last name de Owston is most common today in the United Kingdom, where records indicate that there are approximately 800 individuals carrying the surname. The name originated in England, most likely in Yorkshire, where records date back to the Middle Ages. An 1881 census of England found a total of 1,476 people with this surname, centred in northern parts of England. De Owston as a surname has spread slowly but steadily, and by 1891 the same census from England reported 1,636 people with this surname. The name is now scattered around the world, mostly in countries that were once part of the British Empire, including Australia, Canada, and the United States. Throughout all those countries there are only around 3,000 people who carry this last name.
Variations of the surname de Owston
The surname de Owston is believed to be derived from one of two locations in northern England. The first is Ouston in County Durham, which is believed to be an anglicised form of the Scandanavian or Old Norse word Ás-tún, meaning “the enclosure of the gods”. The second is Owston Ferry in North Lincolnshire, which took its name from an early settler named Owston, meaning “outskirts town”.
Variants of de Owston include, but are not limited to, Owston, Ouston, Oustone, Oustonn, Owstin, Oustin, Oustyn, Osson, Oustan, Oustonnie, Oouten, and Outon. Spellings may vary, with some including hyphens or apostrophes.
Surnames descended from the de Owston surname include Howston, Ouston, Owston, Orniston, and Ornton. These surnames can also be found in other regions, including Scotland, Ireland and Australia.
Famous people with the name de Owston
- Kathryn de Owston: Italian-born British actress who became famous for her roles in BBC's Jane Eyre (1977) and Dennis Potter's The Singing Detective (1986).
- C E Owston de Burgh: British civil engineer and entrepreneur who founded the largest construction and civil engineering consultancy firm in Europe.
- Wallace Owen de Owston: British sportsman who competed in rowing at the 1924 Paris Olympics.
- Giacomo de Owston: Italian Brazilian diplomat who served as the Consul General in Naples, Brazil.
- Eric Owston de Witt: Dutch-born British zoologist who carried out pioneering research on animal behavior and was the first to describe the functions of the nervous system in animals.
- Charles de Owston: British writer and historian who wrote extensively about the Royal Navy and its naval battles.
- Richard de Owston: British actor and director who has appeared in numerous films, television programmes, and stage productions.
- Alfred de Owston: British officer who served in the Grenadier Guards and was awarded the Military Cross.
- Willem de Owston: Dutch-born British zoologist who conducted numerous field expeditions to remote and little-known locations.
- Valery de Owston: Polish-born British explorer and scientist who led the first successful expedition to Antarctica in 1892-93.