Preston
PRES-TUN
Preston is an Old English place name and surname meaning the settlement of the priests, from preost (priest) and tun (settlement, estate). It is one of the most common English place names, found in Lancashire, East Riding of Yorkshire, and many other counties. As a given name, Preston has a solid, unpretentious character. It has been more widely used in America than in Britain, but its straightforward English roots and pleasing sound are attracting fresh interest on both sides of the Atlantic.
At a glance
A solid Old English place-name surname meaning priest's settlement, with a confident, unpretentious character popular in the United States.
Etymology & History
Preston derives from Old English preost-tun, a compound of preost (priest) and tun (enclosure, settlement, estate). The tun element is one of the most productive in English place names, appearing in hundreds of settlements across the country. Preston in Lancashire is the most notable of many places bearing this name and was a significant market town throughout the medieval period. The surname Preston arose from this topographical origin and has been used as a given name since at least the nineteenth century.
Cultural Significance
Preston has a long history as a Lancashire town of national significance, most notably as the site of two battles during the English Civil War and the Jacobite rising of 1715. The town gave its name to Prestonpans in Scotland and to countless descendants who carried the surname. As a given name, Preston became particularly popular in the United States during the twentieth century, where it had a clean, upstanding quality associated with the surname tradition. In Britain it remains less common as a given name, giving it a fresh, transatlantic feel.
Famous people named Preston
Preston North End F.C.
One of the founding clubs of the Football League, based in Preston, Lancashire, known as the Invincibles for their unbeaten 1888-89 season
Preston Sturges
American writer and film director, one of Hollywood's great comic talents of the 1940s, known for films such as The Lady Eve and Sullivan's Travels
Frequently Asked Questions
Names like Preston
Ashton
“Settlement by ash trees”
Ashton means 'settlement by the ash trees,' combining the imagery of resilient ash woodland with the idea of community and home. It conveys a sense of strength, stability, and belonging, rooted in the English landscape. The name has a confident, modern energy while retaining classic English heritage.
Clifton
“Settlement by the cliff”
Clifton is an English place-name turned given name meaning 'settlement by the cliff' or 'farm on a cliff,' evoking the dramatic landscape of the English countryside. It carries a strong, solid character associated with natural grandeur and sturdy reliability. The name has a classic, slightly formal quality that fits comfortably in both traditional and modern contexts.
Colton
“Coal town, dark settlement”
Colton is an English name meaning 'coal town' or 'settlement near the coal mines,' derived from an Old English place name that became a surname and then a popular given name. It carries a rugged, frontier spirit combined with a modern, approachable sound that has made it widely appealing to contemporary parents. The name suggests strength, reliability, and a connection to the land.
Dalton
“Valley town settlement”
Dalton is an English name meaning 'settlement in the valley' or 'valley town', evoking a sense of strong English heritage and a grounded, dependable character. It has long been a popular surname-turned-given name in the English-speaking world, carrying associations of intellect and pioneering spirit. The name projects quiet confidence and a solid, masculine presence.
Easton
“Settlement in the east”
Easton is an English surname-turned-given name meaning 'east-facing settlement' or 'town in the east,' evoking a sense of fresh starts, new horizons, and the promise of dawn. It has a strong, modern sound with deep historical English roots. The name carries a confident, geographic quality that feels both classic and contemporary.
Leighton
“Settlement in the herb enclosure”
Leighton has a distinguished, slightly aristocratic quality that has made it appealing across generations, used for both boys and girls in recent decades. Its rhythm and sound give it a polished, confident feel that works well in professional and social contexts alike. The name experienced a notable revival in the early 21st century, partly due to its association with the actress Leighton Meester.
Sutton
“Southern settlement; rooted heritage”
Sutton is a classic English toponymic surname that has grown considerably as a given name, especially in the United States, from the early 21st century onward. It belongs to the fashionable category of strong, one-or-two-syllable surnames used as first names that projects confidence and a sense of heritage. The name works equally well for boys and girls, though in recent years it has trended toward feminine use in the US.
Weston
“Western settlement or farm”
Weston is a strong, well-established English name with firm roots in the Anglo-Saxon settlement patterns of England. It transitioned smoothly from a place name and surname into a given name, carrying with it a sense of stability and geographic heritage. In recent decades Weston has grown considerably in popularity as a first name, appreciated for its solid, masculine sound and clean feel.
Where you'll find Preston
Preston shows up in these curated collections across Namekin.