This is one of those unusual 'British' surnames which is apparently not what it seems. Recorded in various spellings, all overlapping, and including such forms as Bunston, Bunstone, Binestone, Benson, Bunson and Bonson, it may appear as if some of the spellings are locational from a place called Bunstone or similar, or patronymic as in Bunson meaning the son of Bun, an ancient old English word meaning 'reed'. If the latter it was possibly a nickname for a thin person. If Benson it could refer to the short form of the biblical Benjamin , for the son of Ben, but is much more complicated as whilst there does not appear to be or any place called Bunston(e), there is a place called Benson in Oxfordshire! A very early recording is that of John de Benson of Oxfordshire in the Oseney Charters of 1269. In our opinion all nameholders as Bunson, Bunston or Bunstone have the same origin which would seem to be 'son of Bun'. This would seem to be confirmed by an early Elizabethan recording of Sarah Bunnesone who married Ralph Winfeild at Harefield in Middlesex, on November 7th 1568, with other later developed recordings including John Bunson, christened at St James Clerkenwell, in the city of London, on November 23rd 1617, and John Bunston christened at St Mary Staining, also in the city of London, on September 5th 1685.

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