This is a dialectually transposed variant of the medieval descriptive topographical surname by describing the residential home of a person who lived close, to a local landmark known as 'the stone'. It is possible however that the name is a shortened form of 'by the stone road' - a reference to the paved 'Roman' roads which were still quite evident in some parts of England, even by the late Middle Ages. Similar names are Boothby (by the farm), Boothroyd (by the wood) Bootheway (by the road) etc.. The place of origin is probably from the North Lancashire Lake District region, but this is not proven. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William Botherstone, which was dated 1761, Witness at Tatham Fells church, near Lancaster. during the reign of King George III, Father George, 1760 - 1820. 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.