BASTOW
The Bastow surname is of English provenance, with roots that can be traced to both Old Norse and Anglo‑Saxon linguistic traditions within the British Isles. It is traditionally associated with the Christian community in England and has its earliest documented presence in the ancient county of Yorkshire.
In one line of descent the name is derived from the Old Norse personal name Bástr or Bástrkr, which literally means “boat” or “ship.” In medieval usage such a name would have served as a nickname for a person who worked with or was otherwise closely associated with the sea or with boat building. Over time this nickname became inherited, developing into the hereditary surname Bastow.
An alternate etymology records Bastow as a locational surname, originating from the village of Bairstow in West Yorkshire. The place name itself is believed to arise from the early Old English elements beger (berry) and stow (place), so that Bairstow could be interpreted as “berry place.” The surname appears in its modern variants Barstow, Baistow and Bastow, with the earliest documented instance being that of Ralph de Bayrestowe in the Court Rolls of the manor of Wakefield in 1277 during the reign of King Edward the First.
Subsequent historic entries include Thomas de Barstowe recorded in 1348 in Derbyshire, Edward son of Edward Berstow christened at Halifax in 1541, and Christabella Berstow’s marriage to John Hanson in 1545. In London, a marriage took place between John Bastow and Anne Throwgood in 1577, illustrating the spread of the name beyond its Yorkshire origins.
The family badge granted to a Bairstow line of the name features an ermine shield with a black fesse and three silver crescents. The crest consists of a demi‑eagle displayed above a crescent, symbols which are frequently used in heraldic tradition to indicate vigilance and maritime associations.
In contemporary times the Bastow surname remains principally found within the United Kingdom, while smaller numbers of bearers have migrated to other English‑speaking nations. The continuity of the name over the centuries reflects its firmly established place within the tapestry of English family names and its enduring connection to both noble geography and the maritime heritage of the North Atlantic coast.
Typical given names associated with the Bastow surname
Male
- Andrew
- David
- Ian
- James
- John
- Michael
- Paul
- Richard
- Robert
- Stephen
Female
- Amanda
- Amy
- Barbara
- Claire
- Elizabeth
- Julie
- Lynne
- Margaret
- Mary
- Patricia
- Rachel
- Sarah
- Susan
- Teresa
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Bastow in...
Braille
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Morse
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Semaphore
There are approximately 1,326 people named Bastow in the UK. That makes it roughly the 5,913th most common surname in Britain. Around 20 in a million people in Britain are named Bastow.
Surname type: Location or geographical feature
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Bastow
- Tommy Bastow - Actor and musician
- Ian Bastow - Football player
- John Bastow - Cricketer (1850 to 1927)
- Richard Austin Bastow - Australian naturalist and bryologist (1839 to 1920)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.