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Clan Preston (Tartans, Crest) and The Story Behind

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Preston

Clan Motto: Praesto Ut Praestem (I undertake what I may preform)

Origin of Name: Territorial, derived from the same-named barony

Clan Chief: None, armigerous clan

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Preston Clan History

Preston is derived from the barony of Preston, or Prestoun, which was later known as Gourtoun and, finally, Craigmillar in Midlothian.

Alured de Preston is mentioned as a witness to a charter in 1222, and sometime between 1240 and 1250, Lyulph, son of Lyulph de Preston, received a charter from John Albus for a plot of land in Linlithgow, which he later gave to Neubotel (now Newbattle) Abbey. There is an ancient link between this Preston family and the de Prestoun family in Ireland, who later became the Viscounts Gormanston.

In 1248, Johannes de Prestun witnessed a quitclaim by Johannes Gallard apud Muskilburg, and in 1292, both William de Preston and Henry de Preston appear as charter witnesses. In 1296, Nicol de Prestone and William de Prestone of Edinburgh signed the Ragman Roll, pledging their allegiance to England's Edward I.

Sir John Preston obtained a charter for the lands of Gourtoun, or Gorton, in 1342. Sir John, as well as King David II, were captured during the decisive English victory at the Battle of Durham in 1346. Both were eventually released, the king after eleven years and significant ransoms paid.

In 1362, Symone de Prestoun was elected burgess of Edinburgh, and in 1363, Peter of Preston of Scotland was returned 13 marks he had spent on jewels for Joan, David II's consort, who died the previous year. William Preston brought an arm bone from France to Scotland and donated it to the St. Giles Kirk in Edinburgh.

Alexander Preston, clerk of the realm of Scotland, was granted safe passage into England in 1470. Will of Preston is mentioned as a witness to a charter in 1491, and a Vill of Prestoune is mentioned in the same year.

Sir Simon Preston of Craigmillar was the provost of Edinburgh in 1557, and he bequeathed the land for Trinity Hospital. Sir Robert Preston's death in 1639 marked the end of the Preston family's main line.

During the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), Sir Charles Preston, 5th Baronet, led the siege of Fort St. Jean in Quebec. After the war, he returned to Scotland and became the Member of Parliament for Dysart in Fife.

Preston Places & People

Soon to come

Preston Tartans

Preston has no registered tartan; this is the most appropriate tartan:

District of Edinburgh

Preston Crest & Coats of Arms

Preston Family Crest

Proper description of the crest: An angel

Coats of Arms for Preston:

A word about Coats of Arms:

A coat of arms is granted to an individual under Scottish heraldic law (with the exception of civic or corporate arms). A 'family coat of arms' does not exist. With the exceptions noted above, the arms depicted below are personal arms. Only the person who has been granted these weapons has the right to use them.

De Preston, Henri

Preston Coat of Arms Heraldic Postcard, 1910

The Preston Coat of Arms is displayed at Blains Mission in Manchester.

The official blazon

A Paschal Lamb couchant Argent supporting a Cross-Staff Or flying a second Pennant in base the letters PP of the third.

Origin/meaning

The arms were officially granted on March 6, 1950, but they were already recorded as a seal device at the Visitation of 1613.

The Lamb is the Lamb of St. Wilfrid, Preston's Patron Saint. The letters "P.P." are thought to stand for "Princeps Pacis" - Prince of Peace, or, as some prefer, "Proud Preston." Earlier arms, however, featured a standing lamb with three letters "P" on it. The three letters were chosen to provide general balance to the arms. Later, the arms were modernized, and one of the letters "P" was removed, again to improve the overall design balance.