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).

Discover how your Preston ancestors earned their living and spread across the country. Find out more about your family history by using the Free Search box.

Surname Distribution

Census frequency by county

Name Concentrations Within England and Wales

Preston Surname Statistics


Top Professions for the Preston family

Profession Census Frequency
Scholar 1,164
Agricultural Labourer 328
House Servant 187
At Home 131
Labourer 128
Dress Maker 90
Farm Labourer 88
Servant 77
House Keeper 69
General Servant 58
Pauper 53
Annuitant 52
Coal Miner 48
Shoe Maker 48
Frame Work Knitter 48
Power Loom Weaver 41
Laundress 38
Carpenter 36
Farm Servant 34
Cotton Weaver 30
Scholar At Home 29
Wool Comber 29
Tailor 28
Hand Loom Weaver Cotton 28
Clothier 28

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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