Surname Owsten - Meaning and Origin
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Owsten: What does the surname Owsten mean?
The last name Owsten is believed to have originated from Old English and is said to be derived from "Æthewold’s stan", or "Æthewold's stone". The meaning behind the surname is a reference to a stone which has been set up as a landmark or boundary near a field owned by someone by the name of Æthewold.
The name was often given to those who located or marked boundary stones, as Æthewold would likely have been a landowner of some form who used loyal servants to take care of his land and scheduling. Owsten may also have been given to those who hailed from the close parish of Tasmania, shortened from the Old English place name "Æthewoldstun".
In the modern day the surname Owsten is still found mainly in England and Scotland, commonly found in regions of East Anglia and the Scottish Lowlands. It has also branched out into the United States and the Netherlands. Those known to have the surname Owsten are often related to each other in various ways across generations. This is a common occurrence among those from similar surnames in high concentrations.
Order DNA origin analysisOwsten: Where does the name Owsten come from?
The last name Owsten is likely a British name, suggesting that the earliest origins of the surname could be in England. Today, Owsten is still most commonly found in the United Kingdom, particularly in states such as Lancashire, Yorkshire and Staffordshire. Although rare, occurrences of the surname can be found in records of emigrants who left the British Isles during the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. These records show evidence of the family name appearing in many places around the world, including the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. It is possible that many of these Owsten family members still live in these areas, although accurate population numbers are not available. Additionally, some records show Owsten families residing in France, Germany and Sweden. The name may have even crossed into Russia, as records suggest families sharing the surname may have moved there during World War II. With so many branches of the Owsten family spanning the globe, it is difficult to determine today where Owsten is most common.
Variations of the surname Owsten
The surname Owsten is a patronymic surname based on the given name of the paternal ancestor of the bearer. The surnames Owsten, Owstin, Ousten, Oustin, Ostin, and Ousten arose. This name can be found primarily in the North East of England.
In addition, the name has been spelt in various other ways, such as Osten, Austen, Oustyn, Awsten, Oustane, Austyn, Oustayne, Astone, Hosten, Oustonne, Osteyn, Owstene, Osteen and Oustone. It is also found in Scotland where the variant spelling is Ostin.
Several spellings of this name have produced related names; Owstyn/Austyn, Ouston/Ousten, Ostin/Osteen, and Oustine/Ousten.
The aforementioned alternative spellings are derived from the phonetic pronunciation of the name, and may have been used interchangeably depending on the dialect of the area. It is also possible that some of these variants are derivatives from other European surnames.
Despite the variations and younger forms of the surname, variations such as Owsten, Ousten, Oustin, Ostin, Ousten and Austen, all have the same origin. These surnames usually evolved from a given name that existed in the local dialect of the location the family came from in the past.
Famous people with the name Owsten
- Daniel Owsten: a British actor from the renowned Barnes Theatre Company in London who has appeared in the Netflix original series The Crown and in films such as Prince of Persia and Mr Nice.
- Charles Owsten: a late 19th Century English sculptor who worked primarily in a Neo-Classical style and is noted for his bronze architectural elements like those found in the baths of Victoria Park.
- David Owsten: a British composer, writer, and musician who is best known for his scores for films like Dog Soldiers, The Man Who Knew Too Little, and Flushed Away.
- Ffion Owsten: a Welsh singer-songwriter who has released several singles and albums and whose most popular song “Angels,” peaked at No. 6 on the UK charts.
- Lewis Owsten: an American actor, director, and producer who won an Oscar nomination for his short film “Memento” and who acted in mid-2000s films such as The Last King of Scotland and Click.
- Lady Mary Owsten: a British royal historian and Christian author who has written landmark books on the intricate history of the British monarchy.
- Brad Owsten: the British owner and manager of the renowned Brats Bar and Grill in London which has hosted many popular musical acts over the years.
- Edward Owsten: an American journalist, political analyst, and commentator who is a regular contributor on CNN and has a column called Unwrapped Truth in The Washington Post.
- Sir William Owsten: an 18th Century English diplomat and ambassador who served as the Secretary of State to Queen Elizabeth II and is noted for his philanthropic activities in the region.