This interesting surname is of Anglo-Saxon and Old Scandinavian origin, and is a locational name from places called Cawston in Norfolk and Warwickshire. The placename derives from the Old Scandinavian personal name "Kalfr", plus the Olde English pre 7th Century "tun" meaning enclosure, farm, homestead, hence "Kalfr's tun". The early loss of the "l" in the personal name is due to Norman influence. Cawston in Norfolk is recorded as "Caustuna" in the Domesday Book of 1086, and as "Causton" in the Pipe Rolls of 1159. Cawston in Warwickshire appears as "Causton" in Curia Regis Rolls of 1200. The surname dates back to the late 13th Century, (see below) and early recordings include John de Cateston (1357) in the Feet of Fines of Norfolk. Church Records list the christening of Andrew, son of Andrew Caston, on the 17th December 1554 at Attleborough, Norfolk, and the marriage of William Ceaston to Alyce Cannon, on the 6th November 1564 at St. Gile's, Cripplegate, London. A Coat of Arms granted to a Caston family of Norfolk, is red, a chevron between three silver eagles displayed. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robert de Caston, which was dated 1273 in the Hundred Rolls of Norfolk, during the reign of King Edward 1st - The Hammer of the Scots", 1272-1307. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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