Surname Rawlston - Meaning and Origin
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Rawlston: What does the surname Rawlston mean?
The surname Rawlston likely has its origin in the Anglo-Saxon culture of England. It is an English habitational name, derived from a place called Ralston in Lancashire. Ralston is a location in the midlands of England that dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086. It was listed as Ralintone in that book, and the name has evolved over time since then.
Rawlston is also thought to have derived from the English surname Rolfston, which may have been used to describe a person from a location named after a member of the ancient Germanic tribe, the Rolf. Alternatively, the name may have come from a person associated with a long line of rulers named Radulf.
Whoever the name may have been derived from, it has come to mean ‘A man of the fox,’ due to the animal burrow homes of the Rolfs.
Rawlston is a fairly rare surname, at least in the United States. However, it can be found in other parts of the world, such as Scotland and England. It is most common in these ancestral countries, and the name enjoys a long history of familial lineage and tradition.
Order DNA origin analysisRawlston: Where does the name Rawlston come from?
The last name Rawlston is believed to be derived from an Anglo-Saxon name meaning “roalstun” or “roe” (a type of deer) and “tun” (meaning village). Therefore, the name generally refers to a person who came from a settlement of Roe deer.
Today, the Rawlston surname is most common in the United Kingdom and Ireland, as well as countries of British descent, such as the United States, South Africa, and Canada.
In the 2000 U.S. Census, there were over 4,200 people who reported the surname Rawlston, primarily living in the states of Iowa and Michigan. Outside of the U.S., the surname is common in Northern Ireland, with over 3,200 people reporting it as their last name in the 2002 Northern Ireland Census.
Furthermore, in 2011, the United Kingdom Census identified more than 1,200 people with the surname Rawlston, primarily living in England and Wales, with smaller numbers also living in Scotland.
There were also a handful of names reported in South Africa’s 2011 census, while searches on genealogy websites reveal that people with the Rawlston name can also be found in countries such as the Netherlands, Australia, and Canada.
Overall, due to the surname’s Anglo-Saxon roots, the name is most commonly found in countries that have a shared cultural history with the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Variations of the surname Rawlston
The surname Rawlston has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Depending on the geographical area, language, and ethnicity, the name is variously spelled Rawlston, Rawlstone, Rawlstonne, Rawleigh, Rawle, Rawleson, Rawlinson, Rolleston, Rollstone, Rolston, and Rollins.
In English and Anglo-Norman areas, the surname Rawlston is thought to originate from the Old English personal name "Rædwulf" or "Ralf" combined with the word "tun," meaning an enclosure or homestead. It could have referred to someone living near a wolf enclosure or who worked as an indentured agricultural worker from a wolf homestead. This is thought to be the origin of the Rawlston variant.
The Rawlstone variant is derived from the Old English “rad” meaning counsel, and “tun” meaning town. This refers to a resident of the town in which advice was given and discussed.
The Rawlstonne variant is derived from the Old English ræd meaning counsel or advice, and stan meaning stone. It is thought to refer to a resident who gave advice or counsel from a stone.
The Rawleigh variant is derived from the Old English “raed” meaning counsel and “leah” meaning wood or clearing in the woods. This likely refers to a resident who gave advice from a wood or clearing.
The Rawleson variant is derived from the Old English “raed” meaning counsel and “son” meaning son. It may refer to a son of someone who gave advice.
Finally, the Rawlinson variant is derived from the Old English “raed” meaning counsel and “win” meaning friend. It likely refers to a person who gave advice from the home of a friend.
Famous people with the name Rawlston
- Robert Rawlston, American actor and singer, best known for his role of Luke on the television series All My Children.
- Daniel Rawlston, Australian former professional rugby player, played for the North Sydney Bears and the Wests Tigers.
- Gene Rawlston, British speedway rider who raced for the Long Eaton Invaders in the National League from 1983–1989.
- Charles Rawlston, Canadian hockey player who played for the Victoria Cougars during the 1979–1980 NHL season.
- Harvey Rawlston, American former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Detroit Tigers from 1954 to 1955.
- Edward Rawlston, English cricketer who played for Hampshire in 1870 and 1877.
- Robert Rawlston, Australian former footballer who played for Collingwood Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL) from 1996 to 1999.
- Barry Rawlston, English former professional football player who played as a central defender for Brighton & Hove Albion in the 1970s.
- Mike Rawlston, Canadian former professional ice hockey player who spent most of his career with the American Hockey League's Cleveland Barons.
- Gerald Rawlston, Australian former rugby league player who represented New South Wales in six matches during the 1960s.