Preston Name Origin, Meaning and Family History

Preston Name Meaning: Thought to have derived from the Anglo-Saxon word 'preoston' meaning 'priest settlement'.

May refer to someone who lived in a settlement that a priest lived in or a settlement owned by the church. This surname may have also been taken from a settlment of the same name (for example Preston in Lancashire).

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Surname Distribution

Census frequency by county

Name Concentrations Within England and Wales

Preston Surname Statistics


Top Professions for the Preston family

Profession Census Frequency
Agricultural Labourer 398
Female Servant 265
Independent 216
Labourer 140
Male Servant 113
Farmer 95
Cotton Weaver 89
Weaver 80
Shoe Maker 73
Dress Maker 35
Carpenter 33
Frame Work Knitter 32
Tailor 29
Wool Comber 25
Ag Labourer 25
Coal Miner 25
Ag Lab 23
Joiner 23
Clothier 23
Gardener 22
Servant 21
Publican 21
Painter 20
Butcher 19
Cotton Spinner 17

Preston Surname Variants Ranking

Rank Surname Match Census Frequency
1 Preston 100% 102,963
2 Priston 86% 2,351
3 Pearston 63% 374
4 Parston 71% 338
5 Perston 71% 219
6 Prestone 88% 132

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The surname Preston is the most popular version of all its varients

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