This interesting name has two possible origins. The first being locational 'of Baston' from a place thus called in Lincolnshire. Such locational names were frequently given to the Lord of the Manor as in the following recording: 'Turstan de Baston" (1191) - The Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire. The second possibility is that the name derives from the Olde French 'bastun' meaning a 'stick' and was probably originally given as a nickname to a particularly thin person. In the modern idiom, the name has two spelling variations Baston and Bastone. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Richard Bastun. which was dated 1203 in the Assize Court Rolls of Northamptonshire. during the reign of King John, known as Lackland, 1199 - 1216. 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.