This famous and noble surname recorded as Hasting, Hastings, and Hastin is Anglo-Scottish and either locational or baptismal. Either way it is of pre 7th century origins, derives either from the town of Hastings in Sussex, or from the ancient personal name Hastin, from the Olde Norse "Hasteinn" meaning speedy one. The surname is much associated with Scotland, and the origin from there may well be Norse. What we do know is that the first de Hasting was a soldier of status in the army of Duke William of Normandy, who on October 14th 1066, defeated King Harold at the battle of Senlac Hill, known later as the battle of Hastings. The town name is ancient being first recorded recorded as "Hastingas" in the Saxon Cartulary of 790. The "Hastingas" were an ancient tribe, the name deriving from "haest", meaning violent or furious, the public perception of the tribal members. Amongst the very earliest examples of the surname recording are those of Robert de Hastin, in the Pipe Rolls of the county of Leicestershire, in the year1130, whilst the first recording in Scotland is that of Johanne de Hastinge, Lord of Duns, and Sheriff of the Mearns, in 1178. He is believed to have been a Norman knight who pledged allegiance to King William, The Lyon, of Scotland, and married Isabella de Valence, the niece of King Henry 111rd of England. The first recorded spelling of the family name is that of Robert de Hastinges, and dated 1086, in the Domesday Book of Sussex.

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