Surname Oweston - Meaning and Origin
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Oweston: What does the surname Oweston mean?
The last name Oweston is a variation of several Old English names, including Oswestun, Owstan, and Osweostun. It is derived from the Old English ‘os’, meaning ‘God’ and ‘westun’, meaning ‘settlement’. This surname could have been used to identify someone living at or near an area of worship dedicated to God, such as a chapel or abbey or a place where a church was later built.
The earliest recorded use of the name is in 1272, when John of Owston was listed in the Assize Rolls of Yorkshire. Throughout British history, the Oweston name has been linked to some notable individuals. Notable bearers include William Oweston, who in 1337 was awarded a grant of land from the King, and the Oweston family who lived at Oweston Castle in Shropshire, dating back to the 1600s.
Other variants of the name include Owston and Ouston, many of which have adopted the modern spelling of Austin. Across the world, the name is mainly found in the United Kingdom, United States, and Australia.
The Oweston surname reflects a wonderful connection to the rich history of British places of worship. It is a unique name associated with some intriguing individuals and a reminder of the important role that Christianity has played throughout the years in the formation of our culture and society.
Order DNA origin analysisOweston: Where does the name Oweston come from?
The last name "Oweston" is not a particularly common surname today. It is most likely of English origin, possibly hailing from the English town of Weston, meaning “west town”. The name appears intermittently in records from the Middle Ages in different versions such as de Westewelle, Wendeswelle, Waunderley, Waundel, Woundel, and even Westen.
Today, the surname Oweston appears in the regions of the UK with a strong history of Anglo-Saxon ancestry, such as areas of Kent, East Anglia, the North West, and the Midlands. In America, the surname Oweston is most common throughout the New England States and western areas such as Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.
The surname might have appeared in a variety of ways in different records, making it difficult to pinpoint its current usage. However, it can be surmised that the surname is not incredibly popular in modern times and is not found specifically clustered in one region or another.
Variations of the surname Oweston
The variants, spellings, and surnames of 'Oweston' all originate from an Anglo-Saxon background. As a habitational name, Oweston is derived from one or more of the many places in England which have the name 'Weston'. These include East Weston and West Weston in Somerset; Weston in Gloucestershire; Weston in Hertfordshire; Weston by Welland in Northamptonshire, and Weston near Warminster in Wiltshire.
The variants of Oweston are Ouston, Owston, Oston, Weston, and Westin. These spellings are all derived from the root 'west,' meaning 'the west.' Ouston is the most common variant as many parts of England have the term 'Ouston' in their place name, and it is still used today. Additionally, Owston was used to refer to someone from the place Westow (the Old English form of 'Weston') in Yorkshire.
The surnames associated with Oweston include Westall, Westmore, Westfield, Westgate, Westlake, Westen, Westcott, Westland, and Westfall. Westall and Westmore are derived from the place Weston, in Herefordshire; Westfield from Westfield, in Sussex; Westgate from Westgate, in Northamptonshire; Westlake from Westlake, in Hampshire; Westen from Westen, in Wiltshire; Westcott from Westcott, in Oxfordshire; Westland from Westland, in Derbyshire, and Westfall from Westfall, in Berkshire.
Overall, the variants, spellings and surnames of 'Oweston' all derive from Old English and each is associated with a particular place or location in England.
Famous people with the name Oweston
- Ed Oweston: American information technologist and author
- Mike Oweston: American retired Major League Baseball pitcher
- Zayra Oweston: Norwegian actor and producer
- Philip Oweston: English multi-instrumentalist, sound engineer, and record producer
- Timothy Oweston: British composer and conductor
- Maxine Oweston: American journalist and television news executive
- Lawrence Oweston: British landscape artist and naturalist
- Craig Oweston: Canadian filmmaker and musician
- Bob Oweston: American conservationist, painter and activist
- Sandra Oweston: New Zealand designer, business mentor and conservationist
- Patrick Oweston: Canadian diplomat and businessman
- Caitlyn Oweston: American stand up comedian
- Gregory Oweston: American television producer
- Rose Oweston: English poet and scholar
- Gerry Oweston: Australian football coach and player
- Nicole Oweston: American fashion blogger
- Alfred Oweston: British actor, director and singer
- Bruce Oweston: American architect and designer
- Mark Oweston: Irish composer and multimedia artist
- Ashley Oweston: American interior designer