Surname Houston - Meaning and Origin

A Deep Dive into Houston Lineage: Tracing Ancestral Roots with iGENEA DNA Testing. (

Using iGENEA, I delved into my lineage attached to my surname, Houston. The test offered by iGENEA, which examines our 22 pairs of non-sex chromosomes, provided enlightening insights about my ancestral history, reaching back to the 12th century in Scotland. The accuracy of iGENEA's results, confirmed by ISO 17025 accredited laboratories and 16 genetic markers, revealed fascinating information about the migration patterns and timelines of the Houston lineage.

L. Houston

Houston: What does the surname Houston mean?

The surname Houston is of Scottish origin and is derived from a place name near Glasgow. It means "Hugh's Town" or "settlement" (from "Hugheston"), referring to a town founded or owned by a man named Hugh. The name Hugh itself means "heart", "mind", "spirit". The Houston family were originally located in Renfrewshire, Scotland. They have a long history dating back to the early Middle Ages, with their first recorded ancestors being part of the invasion of King David I in the 12th century. Some members of the Houston family later migrated to Ireland and America, particularly Texas, where the city of Houston was named after Sam Houston, a prominent general and politician in the early history of Texas.

Houston: Where does the name Houston come from?

The last name Houston is of Scottish origin. It originates from a small village named Houston located in Renfrewshire, Scotland. The name itself is borne out of the Scots language and means "Hilltown," with "hugh" translating to a hill and "tun" to a farm or settlement. The name first arose when Hugh de Padinan, a man from a noble lineage, was granted lands from Baldwin of Biggar and was subsequently named after these lands, thus becoming Hugh de (of) Houston.

The surname moved across continents with Scottish emigration, and it is particularly common in the United States today. This higher prevalence is partially because Sam Houston, the well-known first president of the Republic of Texas, helped to popularize the name. The city of Houston, Texas, indeed commemorates his role in Texas' history. But beyond Texas, the Houston surname can be found spread throughout the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and other English-speaking countries.

Variations of the surname Houston

The surname Houston is of Scottish origin and is derived from a town of the same name near Glasgow. It has a few different variations and spellings.

Variants of the surname include Huston, Houstoun, and Hueston. These variations stemmed from the phonetical spelling of the surname during the 17th century, when spelling norms were not yet firmly established. Historical records use these variants interchangeably to represent the same person.

In terms of geographical distribution, the Houston surname is most commonly found in the United States, followed by the United Kingdom and Australia.

It is important to mention that people with the Houston surname or its variants may not necessarily be related, as surnames could be adopted due to various reasons such as location, profession, or for a patron, without a family connection.

The Houston surname doesn't have a clearly established coat-of-arms due to the lack of centralized authority in awarding them which resulted in multiple families having different coats-of-arms despite having the same surname. In summary, the surname Houston and its variations are not exclusive to one family, but rather used by multiple unrelated lines in different locations.

Famous people with the name Houston

• Whitney Houston: An internationally acclaimed American singer, actress, and model, known for her powerful voice and hit songs like "I Will Always Love You."
• Marques Houston: An American R&B singer, songwriter, and actor who rose to fame as a member of the R&B group Immature, later known as IMx.
• Thelma Houston: An American singer and actress who had a hit with her cover version of "Don't Leave Me This Way" in 1976.
• Cissy Houston: An American soul and gospel singer and mother of Whitney Houston. She had a successful career as a backup singer for artists like Elvis Presley and Aretha Franklin.
• Anjelah Johnson-Reyes: Born Anjelah Nicole Johnson, she is an American actress, comedian, and former NFL cheerleader. Johnson is most notable for her membership in the sketch comedy series MADtv.
• Kevin Houston: An American basketball player known for his performance in the NCAA Division I men's basketball.
• Matt Houston: While not a real person, Matt Houston was the title character of an American crime drama series in the 1980s.
• Cisco Houston: An American folk singer and songwriter, closely associated with Woody Guthrie.
• Angelica Houston: Famous Hollywood actress, daughter of film director John Houston.

Other surnames

Houstoun