Alston is an

English language English is a West Germanic language of the Indo-European language family, with its earliest forms spoken by the inhabitants of early medieval England. It is named after the Angles, one of the ancient Germanic peoples that migrated to the is ...

surname In some cultures, a surname, family name, or last name is the portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family, tribe or community. Practices vary by culture. The family name may be placed at either the start of a person's full name ...

with several derivations, and a male given name.

Origins

The name may have evolved from the

Middle English Middle English (abbreviated to ME) is a form of the English language that was spoken after the Norman conquest of 1066, until the late 15th century. The English language underwent distinct variations and developments following the Old English p ...

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a fa ...

"Alstan", the prefix, ''Al-'' itself derived from different

Old English Old English (, ), or Anglo-Saxon, is the earliest recorded form of the English language, spoken in England and southern and eastern Scotland in the early Middle Ages. It was brought to Great Britain by Anglo-Saxon settlement of Britain, Anglo ...

words ("noble", "elf", "old", "shrine", "temple"), and the suffix ''-stan'' ("stone") derived from pre 7th century Old English. The oldest public record of this derivation is found in 1279 in

Cambridgeshire Cambridgeshire (abbreviated Cambs.) is a Counties of England, county in the East of England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the north-east, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and North ...

. One branch of this name may have been taken from the manor of a Saxon Lord called Alstanus, who had his manor in Stambourne, North East Essex. It is known that he was still in possession of the manor after the Norman conquest, although as a tenant rather than owner, he held the land annexed against the King. There are a high density of families with the surname Alston and Alliston from around the Sudbury area, not far from Stambourne. In the 1224 feet of fines it is recorded that John son of Adam de Alliston sold land at Stanfeld (Stansfield) Suffolk. Stansfield is a few miles North of Stambourne. Both Stambourne and Stansfield may have taken their name from

Æthelstan Half-King Æthelstan Half-King (fl. 932 – 956) was an important and influential Ealdorman of East Anglia who interacted with five kings of England, including his adopted son King Edgar the Peaceful. Many of Æthelstan's close relatives were also involved i ...

, Earl of East Anglia in the 930s. Alston also evolved as a

locational surname A toponymic surname or topographic surname is a surname derived from a place name.

from villages named Alston (or Alstone) in

Devon Devon ( , historically known as Devonshire , ) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South West England. The most populous settlement in Devon is the city of Plymouth, followed by Devon's county town, the city of Exeter. Devon is ...

shire,

Gloucestershire Gloucestershire ( abbreviated Glos) is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn and the entire Forest of Dean. The county town is the city of Gl ...

Lancashire Lancashire ( , ; abbreviated Lancs) is the name of a historic county, ceremonial county, and non-metropolitan county in North West England. The boundaries of these three areas differ significantly. The non-metropolitan county of Lancashi ...

Somerset ( en, All The People of Somerset) , locator_map = , coordinates = , region = South West England , established_date = Ancient , established_by = , preceded_by = , origin = , lord_lieutenant_office =Lord Lieutenant of Somerset , lord_ ...

, and

Staffordshire Staffordshire (; postal abbreviation Staffs.) is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. It borders Cheshire to the northwest, Derbyshire and Leicestershire to the east, Warwickshire to the southeast, the West Midlands Cou ...

. The oldest public records of the locational surname in these villages are from the period of 1221–1246. An alternate meaning is "from the old manor". The nearest locational name to Stambourne was Alston village in Suffolk near Trimley St Martin, recorded in the Domesday Book as ''Alteinestuna''. The original meaning may have been Stone of Fire Farm (''tuna''). ''Alteines'' is a Gallic word meaning "stone of fire" and is associated with sorcery. The church was consolidated to Trimley St Martin in 1362. The coat of arms containing the stars may have been taken as a variant of the coat of arms of the De Veres (

Earls of Oxford Earl of Oxford is a dormant title in the Peerage of England, first created for Aubrey de Vere by the Empress Matilda in 1141. His family was to hold the title for more than five and a half centuries, until the death of the 20th Earl in 170 ...

) who were one of the most powerful post Norman East Anglian families and associated with early East Anglian Alstons. Notable people with the name include:

Surname

Adrian Alston Adrian Alston (born 6 February 1949) is a former professional soccer player. Born in England, he began his career as a youth player with Preston North End and briefly at non-league Fleetwood before moving to Australia. In Australia, he played f ...

(born 1949), Australian soccer player *

Arthur Alston Arthur Fawssett Alston (30 December 187220 February 1954) was an Anglican bishop, the third Bishop of Middleton (a suffragan bishop in the Church of England Diocese of Manchester) from 1938 until 1943. Born at Sandgate, Kent, the third son of ...

(1872–1954), British Anglican priest, Bishop of Middleton *

Arthur Hugh Garfit Alston Arthur Hugh Garfit Alston (born in West Ashby on 4 September 1902; died in Barcelona on 17 March 1958) was an English botanist. His father was a vicar and amateur naturalist who first got him interested in the field. A.H.G. Alston later received ...

(1902–1958), English botanist *

Ashanti Alston Ashanti Omowali Alston (born 1954) is an anarchist activist, speaker, writer, and former member of the Black Panther Party and Black Liberation Army. From 1974 to 1985, he spent time in prison for bank robbery, which caused him to become further ...

(born 1954), American anarchist activist, speaker, and writer *Sir Beilby Alston (1868–1929), British diplomat * Bill Alston (1884–1971), Scottish professional football player * Blair Alston (born 1992), Scottish professional football player * C. Donald Alston, United States Air Force general *

Charles Alston (botanist) Charles Alston (1683 – 22 November 1760) was a Scottish botanist. Career Alston was born in Hamilton, Lanarkshire, and was apparently raised by the Duke and Duchess of Hamilton. In 1715 he went to Leyden to study under the Dutch physician H ...

(1683–1760), Scottish botanist *

Charles Alston Charles Henry Alston (November 28, 1907 – April 27, 1977) was an American painter, sculptor, illustrator, muralist and teacher who lived and worked in the New York City neighborhood of Harlem. Alston was active in the Harlem Renaissance; Als ...

(1907–1977), African-American painter, sculptor, illustrator, muralist, and teacher *

Dave Alston The following is a list of major league baseball umpires. The list includes umpires who worked in any of four 19th century major leagues (American Association, National Association, Players' League, Union Association), one defunct 20th century ...

(1846–1893), American baseball umpire *

Dean Alston Dean John Douglas Alston (born 1950) is an Australian cartoonist who became the editorial cartoonist of ''The West Australian'' newspaper in 1986. Biography Dean Alston was born in South Perth, Western Australia. He grew up in Mount Pleasant ...

(born 1950), Australian cartoonist *

Dell Alston Wendell Alston (born September 22, 1952) is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, and Cleveland Indians. He attended Concordia College, where h ...

(born 1952), American former baseball player *

Derrick Alston Derrick Samuel Alston Sr. (born August 20, 1972) is an American former basketball player who is the head coach for the Westchester Knicks of the NBA G League. Early life Born in The Bronx, New York, Alston played basketball at Hoboken High Schoo ...

(born 1972), American basketball player *Sir

Edward Alston Sir Edward Alston (1595–24 December 1669), was the president of the College of Physicians. Alston was born in Suffolk, son of Edward Alston of Edwardstone, and was educated at St. John's College, Cambridge. He graduated B.A. 1615, M.D. 1626. ...

(1595–1669), president of the British College of Physicians *

Edward Richard Alston Edward Richard Alston (1 December 1845 – 7 March 1881) was a Scottish zoologist. Alston was born at Stockbriggs, near Lesmahagow, on 1 December 1845. He was delicate in youth, so chiefly self-educated at home. He very early contributed to ''Th ...

(1845–1881), Scottish zoologist *

Garvin Alston Garvin James Alston Sr. (born December 8, 1971) is an American professional baseball right-handed pitcher who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Colorado Rockies in 1996. After retiring from playing, he entered coaching and previously ...

(born 1971), American baseball player *

Gerald Alston Gerald Alston (born November 8, 1951) is an American soul/R&B singer, and the lead singer of the Grammy Award winning group The Manhattans between late 1970 and 1988, recording 25 top 40 R&B and 12 Hot 100 Pop Singles. Alston was lead singer on ...

(born 1951), American R&B singer * "Granny" Alston (1908–1985), English cricketer *

Jan Alston Jan Alston (born April 14, 1969) is a Canadian- Swiss ice hockey executive, coach and former professional ice hockey centre. He was granted Swiss citizenship in 2002. He became sport director at Swiss side Lausanne HC in 2011. Playing career ...

(born 1969), Canadian ice hockey player * John Alston, 19th-century explorer of Australia *

Jon Alston Jon Alston (born June 4, 1983) is an American screenwriter, director, producer and former National Football League (NFL) linebacker. He has written and produced on critically acclaimed shows such as ''S.W.A.T.'' and '' All American''. His first f ...

(born 1983), American football player * Joseph Alston (disambiguation) * Julian Alston, Australian-American economist *

Kevin Alston Kevin Lawrence Alston (born May 5, 1988) is an American soccer player. Club career Alston played college soccer College soccer is played by teams composed of soccer players who are enrolled in colleges and universities. It is very pro ...

(born 1988), American soccer player *

Kwaku Alston Kwaku Alston is an American photographer. His editorial work has been featured in ''The New York Times Magazine'', ''Rolling Stone'', ''Time'', ''Men’s Health'', ''Essence'', and ''Men’s Journal,'' among many others. He has photographed ads f ...

, American photographer * Lee J. Alston (born 1951), American professor of economics *

Lemuel J. Alston Lemuel James Alston (1760–1836) was a slave owner and U.S. Representative from South Carolina. Born in the eastern part of Granville County (which is now Warren County) in the Province of North Carolina, Alston moved to South Carolina after t ...

(1760–1836), United States Congressman *

Lettie Alston Lettie Beckon Alston (born 1953) is an American composer known for her piano work and a longstanding series of concerts, "Lettie Alston and Friends." Biography Alston was born in 1953 in Detroit. Alston attended Wayne State University for her ...

(born 1953), African-American composer *

Louise Alston Louise Alston is an Australian film director and producer best known for the movies ''All My Friends Are Leaving Brisbane'' and '' Jucy''. Biography Alston was born in Wagga Wagga, and studied at the Australian Film, Television and Radio School ...

, Australian director and producer * Lyneal Alston (born 1964), American football player *

Mack Alston Mack C. Alston Jr. (April 27, 1947 – December 24, 2014) was a professional American football player. A 6'2", tight end from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Alston played 11 seasons from 1970–1980 in the National Football League. ...

(born 1947), American football player * Margaret Alston-Garnjost (1929–2019), British physicist * Michael Alston, Australian disabled fencer * Mike Alston (born 1985), American football player *

Nick Alston Nicholas Kenneth Alston (born 2 September 1952) is a British former Conservative Essex Police and Crime Commissioner. Alston was the first person to hold the post and was elected on 15 November 2012. The turn-out in Essex for the 2012 PCC elec ...

, British civil servant, later a Police and Crime Commissioner and health service manager *

O'Brien Alston O'Brien Darwin Alston (born December 21, 1965) is an American former football linebacker. He played college football for the University of Maryland from 1984 to 1987. The Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL) selected Alston in ...

(born 1965), American football player *

Ovie Alston Overton "Ovie" Alston (December 14, 1905 – 1989) was an American jazz trumpeter, vocalist, and bandleader. Alston played with Bill Brown and His Brownies in New York in 1928, recording with them for Brunswick Records. He was hired by Claude ...

(1905–1989), American jazz trumpeter, vocalist, and bandleader *

Peter Alston Peter Alston (after 1765 - February 8, 1804) was an American counterfeiter, horse thief, highwayman, and river pirate of the late 18th and early 19th Centuries. He is believed to have been an associate of serial killer Little Harpe, and a memb ...

(c.1765–1804), American counterfeiter and river pirate *

Philip Alston (counterfeiter) Philip Alston (Feb. 18, 1740 or 1741 – after 1799) was an 18th-century Spanish-American coin counterfeiting, counterfeiter, both before and after the American Revolution. He operated in Virginia and the Carolinas before the war, and in Kentuc ...

, 18th-century American counterfeiter, frontier military leader *

Philip Alston Philip Geoffrey Alston is an Australian international law scholar and human rights practitioner. He is John Norton Pomeroy Professor of Law at New York University School of Law, and co-chair of the law school's Center for Human Rights and Globa ...

, American law scholar and human rights practitioner *

Rafer Alston Rafer Jamel Alston (born July 24, 1976), also known as Skip to my Lou or Skip 2 My Lou, is an American retired professional basketball player. Alston first gained basketball fame playing in the AND1 Mixtape Tour in 1999 before making the National ...

(born 1976), American basketball player *

Rex Alston Rex may refer to: * Rex (title) (Latin: king, ruler, monarch), a royal title ** King of Rome (Latin: Rex Romae), chief magistrate of the Roman Kingdom People * Rex (given name), for people with the given name * Rex (surname), for people with t ...

(1901–1994), British radio sports commentator * Richard Alston (disambiguation) * Robert W. Alston (18th–19th centuries), American planter, grandfather of Robert Augustus Alston *

Robert Alston Robert John Alston, (born 10 February 1938) is a retired British diplomat. Alston was educated at Ardingly College and New College, Oxford. He is Chairman of Governors at Ardingly College. He served as British Ambassador to Oman between (198 ...

(born 1938), British diplomat * Royal Alston (c.1888–unknown), American college football coach *

Theodosia Burr Alston Theodosia Burr Alston (June 21, 1783 – January 2 or 3, 1813) was an American socialite and the daughter of the third U.S. Vice President, Aaron Burr, and Theodosia Bartow Prevost. Her husband, Joseph Alston, was governor of South Carolina du ...

(1783–1813), daughter of U.S. Vice President Aaron Burr, disappeared at sea * Thomas Alston (disambiguation) * Tiffany Alston (born 1977), American politician *

Walter Alston Walter Emmons Alston (December 1, 1911 – October 1, 1984), nicknamed "Smokey", was an American baseball player and manager in Major League Baseball He is best known for managing the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers from 1954 through 1976, and sig ...

(1911–1984), American baseball player and manager * Wanda Alston (1959–2005), United States feminist activist and government official * William Alston (disambiguation) *

Willis Alston Willis Alston Jr. (1769April 10, 1837) was a politician and slaveowner from North Carolina. A member of the Democratic-Republican Party and later a Jacksonian, he served as a US Representative in the 6th to the 13th Congresses (1799–1815) and ...

(1769–1837), U.S. Congressman from North Carolina

Given name

* Alston Bobb (born 1984), West Indian cricketer *

Alston G. Dayton Alston Gordon Dayton (October 18, 1857 – July 30, 1920) was a United States representative from West Virginia and a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia. Education and caree ...

(1857–1920), American politician *

Alston Scott Householder Alston Scott Householder (5 May 1904 – 4 July 1993) was an American mathematician who specialized in mathematical biology and numerical analysis. He is the inventor of the Householder transformation and of Householder's method. Career Househ ...

(1904–1993), American mathematician *

Alston Koch Alston Koch is a Sri Lanka born Australian - Sri Lankan singer-songwriter, film producer, record producer and actor. He was often lauded in the Australian and Asian media as "Asia's King of Pop" or "Pop King of Asia" after gaining internation ...

(born 1951), Sri Lankan singer-songwriter and record producer *

Alston May Alston James Weller May was an Anglican bishop in the first half of the 20th century. He was born in 1869 and educated at Leeds Grammar School and Oriel College, Oxford . After a period of study at Ripon College Cuddesdon he was ordained in ...

(1869–1940), British Anglican priest, Bishop of Northern Rhodesia * Alston Purvis (born 1943), American graphic designer, artist, professor and author * Alston Wise (1904–1984), Canadian ice hockey player

References

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