Puleston

This interesting and unusual name is of English locational origin from a place thus called in the Newport district of Shropshire. One, Roger de Pynelesdon, entered in the 1273, "Hundred Rolls of Shropshire" is believed to be the first recorded namebearer from this source. The component elements of the name are most likely the Celtic "pen", head or summit, with an explanatory "hyll" meaning "hill"added, plus the Celtic "dun", a fort; hence, "fort on the hilltop". On January 23rd 1591, Tomasin Puleston and John Clarke were married in Thorpe Constantine, Staffordshire, and on October 1st 1594, Thomas Puleston married an Anne Tipping in London. Hamlet Puleston or Puliston (1632-1662), M.A. Wadham College, Oxford published a royalist treatise in 1660. His uncle, John Puleston, judge, and reader, Middle Temple, 1634, was appointed judge of common pleas by parliament in 1649. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Frances Puleston, (christening), which was dated November 2nd 1566, Loppington, Shropshire, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, "Good Queen Bess", 1558 - 1603. 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.