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 2,418
Cotton Weaver 256
General Labourer 189
Agricultural Labourer 174
Coal Miner 149
Domestic Servant 134
Dress Maker 128
Farmer 120
Living On Own Means 118
Living On Her Own Means 89
Labourer 88
General Servant Domestic 83
Farm Servant 62
Blacksmith 59
Farm Labourer 59
Laundress 59
House Keeper 58
General Servant 52
Cotton Spinner 39
Shoe Maker 39
Grocer 38
General Domestic Servant 37
Tailor 37
Joiner 37
Painter 35

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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