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
Scholar 1,557
Agricultural Labourer 316
House Servant 142
Cotton Weaver 134
Labourer 132
Dress Maker 88
House Keeper 78
Servant 75
Coal Miner 70
Carter 61
General Servant 54
House Maid 37
Laundress 34
Carpenter 33
Blacksmith 32
Shoe Maker 32
Nurse 31
Grocer 30
Tailor 30
Farmers Son 30
Joiner 29
Farm Labourer 28
Cotton Power Loom Weaver 28
Farm Servant 27
Frame Work Knitter 27

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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