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The following material was collected by Norman Weston normdian@gmail.com
The ancient chronicles of England reveal the early records of the name Weston as a Norman surname which ranks as one of the oldest. The history of the name is closely interwoven within the majestic tapestry as an intrinsic part of the history of Britain.
In-depth research by skilled analysts into ancient manuscripts such as the Domesday Book. (compiled in 1086 by William the Conqueror), the Ragman Rolls, the Wace poem, the Honour Roll of the Battel Abbey, The Curia Regis, Pipe Rolls, the Falaise Roll, tax records, baptismals, family genealogies, local parish and church records, shows the first record of the name Weston was found in Staffordshire England where they had been seated at Weston-under-lizard, having been granted lands as a tenant in chief by William the Conqueror. Reginald Bailleul was from Bailleul-En-Gouffern at Orne, arrondisement of Argentan, in the Canton of Trun, in Normandy.
Many alternative spellings were found in the archives researched, typically linked to a common root, usually one of the Norman nobles at the Battle of Hastings. Although the name, Weston, appeared in many references, from time to time the surname was spelled differently, and these changes in spelling frequently occurred, even between father and son. Scribes recorded and spelled the name as it sounded. Typically a person would be born with one spelling, married with another, and buried with a headstone which showed another. All three spellings referred to the same person.
The family name Weston is believed to be descended originally from the Norman race, frequently but mistakenly assumed to be of French origin. They were more accurately of Viking origin. The Vikings landed in the Orkneys and Northern Scotland about the year 870 A.D., under their king, Stirgud the Stout. Thorfinn Rollo, his descendant landed in northern France about the year 940 A.D. The French King, Charles the Simple, after Rollo laid siege to Paris, finally conceded defeat and granted northern France to Rollo. Rollo became the first duke of Normandy, the territory of the "north men". Rollo married Charles' daughter and became a convert to Christianity. Duke William who invaded and defeated England in 1066, was descended from the first Duke Rollo of Normandy.
Duke William took a census of most of England in 1086, and recorded it in the Domesday book. A family name capable of being traced back to this manuscript, or to Hastings, was a signal honour for most families during the middle ages, and even to this day.
The surname Weston emerged as a notable family name in the county of Staffordshire, in the manors of Weston, Burton, Broton, and Newton. The name became Weston about 1140 when Sir Hamo de Weston adopted that name. By the year 1200 Adam Weston was the direct descendant at the manor of Weston. By 1540 Sir William Weston was followed by the Earl of Portland which became extinct by 1688. Meanwhile many junior branches emerged including Sutton, Effingham, and Ockham, in Surrey, West Horsley Place in Surrey, and Summerby in Lincolnshire. Prominent amongst the family at this time was Earl of Portland.
The surname Weston contributed much to local politics and in the affairs of England or Scotland. During the 11th and 12th centuries many of these Norman families moved north to Scotland. Later in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries England was ravaged by religious and political conflict. The Monarchy, the Church and Parliament fought for supremacy. Religious elements vied for control, the State Church, the Roman Church and the Reform Church. All, in their time, made demands on rich and poor alike. They broke the spirit of men and many turned from religion, or alternatively, renewed their faith, pursuing with vigour and ferocity, the letter of ecclesiastical law. Many families were freely encouraged "to migrate to Ireland, or to the colonies". Non-believers or dissidents were banished, sometimes even hanged.
The settlers in Ireland became known as the "Adventurers for land in Ireland". They undertook to keep the Protestant faith. In Ireland they settled mainly in Ulster and Leinster. The democratic attitudes of the new world spread like wildfire. Many migrated aboard the fleet of sailing ships known as the "White Sails". The stormy Atlantic, small pox, dysentery, cholera, and typhoid took its toll on the settlers and many of these tiny, overcrowded ships arrived with only 60 or 70% of their passenger list. The migration or Banishment to the New World continued, some voluntarily from Ireland, but mostly directly from England or Scotland, their home territories. Some clans and families even moved to continental Europe.
In North America, migrants which could be considered a kinsman of the family name Weston, or variable spellings of that name included Francis and Lucy Weston settled in Virginia in 1630; JoeWeston settled in the Barbados in 1635; Thomas Weston settled in Main in 1623; William Weston settled in Virginia in 1623. From the port of arrival many settlers joined the wagon trains westward. During the American War of Independence some declared their loyalty to the crown and moved northward into Canada and became known as the United Empire Loyalists.
There were many notables of this name Weston: Sir Eric Weston; Rev. Arthur Weston of Adelaide; Bertram Weston, horticulturist; Air Marshal Sir John Weston; Garfield Weston, Chairman, Associated British Foods; William Galen Weston, Chairman, George Weston Ltd.; Grainger Weston, Texas landowner; Dr. John Weston G.M.; Admiral William Weston.
In the process of researching this distinguished family name we traced the most ancient grant of Arms from the branches which developed their own Arms, which was: silver with a black eagle displayed. The crest was a black eagle. The family motto was: "Aquila Non Capit Muscas" meaning "Eagles do not make terms with flies".
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