Recorded in the spellings of Kidston, Kidstoun, and Kidstoune, this is an ancient Scottish surname. It is locational and derives from an area known as 'the lands of Kidston', in the the parish of Peebles. The place name appears to translate as 'Kids farm", however the 'name' was more probably in the 7th century cyta or kyta, a Norse-Viking word meaning kite (bird), although later a personal name in its own right. To this was added the Olde English element of 'tun' meaning farm or sometimes settlement. Highland Scottish and Gaelic surnames are not usually locational, being more often, particulary with clan names, patronymics based upon the name of the first chief. The further south in Scotland, Peebles being in the border region, the greater the incidence of locational surnames. These were usually given at least in the first instances, to the local lord of the manor. Later they were given as easy identification to 'strangers', who moved from a particular place to live or work in another village or town. Early examples of the name recording from ancient charters and registers include: Roger de Kydeston, a juror on a land 'inquest' regarding ownership of the lands of Hopkelchoc (?) in 1259. In 1262 in the slightly different spelling of Roger de Kedistun, he is recorded as a juror on another enquiry relating to a peat bog at Wallthamshope. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Gilchrist Kideston, and dated 1203, in the records of the Abbey of Kelso. This was during the reign of King William, known as 'The Lion of Scotland', 1165 - 1214.

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