Surname Gledstane - Meaning and Origin
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Gledstane: What does the surname Gledstane mean?
The surname Gledstane is derived from a place in Scotland known as Glendale. The name Glendale is derived from the Old Norse words "Gledi" meaning "valley" and "Stane" meaning "stone". This name likely originates from a geographical feature, such as a valley with a prominent rocky outcrop, with which the local population identified.
The origin of the Gledstane surname is generally traced back to the mid-14th century, when a family named de Glendale can be found in the Parish of Haddington, south-east of Edinburgh. From that point, the Gledstane surname gradually began to spread as part of Scotland’s small population, with records of the name being found as far away as Inverclyde, Helensburgh and Argyll in the early 17th century.
Today, the Gledstane surname is a fairly common one in Scotland and across the British Isles, though it is still very much connected to its Highland roots. The name has been inherited by Scottish clans, with a clan held by the last name of Gledstane consisting of the families of Gallacher, MacAuslan and Gledstane.
The surname Gledstane may not be a particularly famous one, but its origins are steeped in Scottish history and folklore. Its brief but interesting past is sure to keep interested parties intrigued.
Order DNA origin analysisGledstane: Where does the name Gledstane come from?
The last name Gledstane is most commonly found in Northern England, particularly in areas of Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Cumbria. Many records of the name go back centuries to the 1400s in the UK.
The surname may have arrived in the UK during the Norman Invasion in the 11th century. Gledstane may be a pre-Norman English name derived from the Old English words ‘gled’ and ‘stan’, and so was likely already present in Britain centuries before the invasion.
There are other origins for the name too, however. In some cases, Gledstane could be a variant of the Scottish name Glendinning, an occupational name for a blacksmith. In this case, it derives from the elements ‘glyn’ meaning ‘valley’ and ‘dun’ meaning ‘hill’.
Today, the name Gledstane remains more common in the North of England, though is more widely distributed across the British Isles. It is also widely found scattered in the English speaking diaspora in countries such as Australia, the United States of America, and Canada.
Variations of the surname Gledstane
The surname Gledstane (or Gledstone) is derived from the Old English "glaed stan", meaning "bright stone." Variants, spellings and other surnames of the same origin include Gledstan, Gledstone, Glidstone, Gladesone, Gledysten, Glidenstone, and Glitonstone.
Gledstane is a Norse-Viking surname, first found in Northumberland. It is also common in Scotland as a result of Norse-Viking migration in that region. In particular, this surname was found in the Tresmaid area of Scotland. In Scotland, the Gaelic equivalent of Gledstane is glaed stain, which is pronounced glay-steen. This surname is also found in England, Wales, Ireland, and other parts of the British Isles.
The surname has several spelling variations due to the lack of consistency in eighteenth and nineteenth-century records. Variations include Gladeson, Gledenston, Gledsone, Gledtson, Gledstane, Gleedstone, Glisonstone, and Gladsenstone.
The Glistonstone variation of the name comes from the location of Gliston in Hampshire, England as families moved over time and joined the local communities. The Gladsenstone variant comes from Gladsen in Essex, England, as a result of families moving and their name becoming Anglicised.
In many regions, the surname was altered as immigrants moved to other countries. In the United States, the surname is sometimes spelled Gladstone or Gladsone. In Canada, the preferred spelling is Gledstone, but other variants exist.
The prevalence of this surname is greatest in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Scotland, followed by the United States, Canada, and other countries around the world.
Famous people with the name Gledstane
- Colin Gledstanes: British actor
- Judith Gledstanes: American actress
- Mary Gledstanes: Award-winning British broadcast journalist
- Anca Gledstanes: Canadian-born professional golfer
- Kirsty Gledstanes: British novelist
- Angus Gledstanes: Scottish musician and songwriter
- Nichola Gledstanes: American poet
- John Gledstanes: Northern Irish footballer
- Robert Gledstanes: Canadian politician
- Elisabeth Gledstanes: Danish singer-songwriter