This name is of English locational origin from high or low Buston in Northumberland. Recorded variously as Buttesdune and Uuerbuttesdun in the Pipe Rolls of that county in 1166 and 1186 respectively and as Butlisdon superior and inferior in the 1242 'Fine Court Rolls', the first element is the Olde English pre 7th Century personal/nickname Buttel from 'butt', short or thickset, plus 'dun', a hill or mountain. The name, with variant spellings Busten, Bustin and Bustian is well recorded in London church registers from the early 17th Century, (see below). On October 30th 1615 Jaine Buston married Richard Bower in All Saints, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, and on September 14th 1651 John Buston, an infant, was christened in Anlwick, Northumberland. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Jane Buston, daughter of Godfrie Buston, which was dated June 17th 1610, christened in St. Mary's Whitechapel, London, during the reign of King James I of England and VI of Scotland, 1603 - 1625. 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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