Surname Egleston - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'E'
Egleston: What does the surname Egleston mean?
The surname Egleston is of English origin and is derived from a geographical locality. It is believed to come from "Eglesfield" or "Eglesford," names of places in England. The meaning of these place names is 'Egla's field' or 'Egla's ford'. Here, 'Egla' is a personal name, 'ford' refers to a shallow part of a river or stream allowing one to walk or drive across, and 'field' denotes an open piece of land with no trees or houses often used for growing crops or pasture.
The addition of the sufffix "-ton" or "-ston" to a root word in English place names usually indicates 'farm' or 'settlement'. So "Egleston" could possibly mean 'Egla's farm' or 'Egla's settlement'. Over time, geographical names often got transformed into surname when people moved away from a place and started to be identified with that place name.
Please note that interpreting surnames can be difficult due to language evolution and the mixing of cultures. Therefore, the exact meaning of "Egleston" might differ slightly in various contexts.
Order DNA origin analysisEgleston: Where does the name Egleston come from?
The surname Egleston is of Anglo-Saxon origin and appears to have geo-ethnic roots in England. The name is derived from an old English personal name "Ecgel" and "tun", an Old English term for "farm" or "settlement." Thus, Egleston can mean "Ecgel's farm" or "settlement."
This surname, like many, had variations in its spelling over centuries and across regions, with examples such as Eccleston, Eckleston, Eggleston, and Egliston spotted in records. It might have originated from these locations in England: Eccleston in Lancashire and Chester, or Eggleston in County Durham. A significant migration in the 17th century brought the name to America where it became more widely established.
Today, the surname Egleston is scattered worldwide, caused by global migration over time. However, it is still most commonly found in England and the United States, according to current surname distribution data. Given its history and dispersion, the Egleston name can be discovered amid various cultural backgrounds, most predominantly within Anglo-Saxon contexts.
Variations of the surname Egleston
The surname Egleston is of English origin and can be traced back to Medieval England. Variants and alternative spellings of this surname evolved over time and these changes often resulted due to a misinterpretation of the original spelling or phonetic variations. Variants and spellings include Eggleston, Eglestone, Egliston, Egglestone, Egglston, Eggliston, and Eglistone.
These spellings can be attributed to regional dialects and how individuals interpreted the pronunciation when it was spelled phonetically. These unique spellings were then handed down through generations in different families, resulting in the several variants in existence today. Additionally, spelling variations could also emerge due to errors in record keeping, since bureaucracy was not standardized and many office holders recorded names as they heard them.
Moreover, Egleston may also share the same origin with other surnames such as Eglin, Eglan, Eglen, which share the 'Egle' root, possibly indicating a common origin from one geographical area.
It should also be noted that each region may adopt slightly different variations, so the prevalence of these variations may change according to the geographical location.
Famous people with the name Egleston
- Thomas Egleston: He was a renowned American engineer and educator who founded the Columbia University School of Mines, now known as the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science.
- William Egleston: He is a famous American photographer credited with almost single-handily making color photography a legitimate artistic medium to display in galleries and museums.
- Ynes Mexia Egleston: Notable Mexican-American botanist and explorer, famous for her collections of new plant species from areas of Mexico and South America.
- George Egleston: He was an American author and historian known for his work in early American and Civil War era history. However, it's important to note that the surname Egleston is not very common and hasn't been associated with a large number of globally renowned personalities.