Houston Surname

5,731st
Most Common
surname in the World

Approximately 98,680 people bear this surname

Most prevalent in:
United States
Highest density in:
Northern Ireland

Houston Surname Definition:

This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'of Houston.' Mr. Lower writes, 'The ancient knightly family so called originally bore the name of Paduinan from a place in Lanarkshire, In the 12th cent. Hugh de P. acquired the lands of Kilpeter, and built a residence there, to which he gave the name of Hugh's Town, now Houston, Renfrewshire His descendants of that ilk borrowed their surname from it' (Patronymica Britannica).

Read More About This Surname

Houston Surname Distribution Map

PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
United States74,0401:4,895541
England5,0251:11,0881,637
Scotland4,4771:1,196198
Canada4,3831:8,4061,246
Australia3,7101:7,2761,072
Northern Ireland2,4421:756127
South Africa1,2091:44,8125,729
New Zealand9801:4,621735
Ireland4201:11,2121,418
Wales2321:13,3381,475
Jamaica1901:15,1051,449
Saudi Arabia1591:194,06229,524
France1321:503,20270,199
Egypt1221:753,57238,342
Guyana1181:6,4601,095
Thailand851:831,039133,417
Germany771:1,045,52570,954
Mexico521:2,387,04220,469
Grenada461:2,359388
Spain431:1,087,25739,071
Philippines401:2,530,956131,537
Kuwait391:97,45410,676
Russia371:3,895,218191,585
Liberia361:122,4599,313
Brazil351:6,116,409148,801
Singapore341:161,9916,884
Chile321:550,51513,718
Costa Rica311:154,1962,192
Trinidad and Tobago311:43,9994,008
China221:62,150,9803,380
Argentina211:2,035,401100,871
Malaysia201:1,474,71161,770
Belgium181:638,70256,744
Switzerland181:456,27333,097
Denmark171:332,04223,714
Nigeria151:11,809,517219,567
Sweden151:656,45048,545
Italy141:4,368,335106,343
Netherlands141:1,206,22770,951
India131:59,005,029552,550
Norway121:428,52437,411
Benin111:939,60046,216
Ghana91:3,002,29911,581
Finland71:785,24338,644
Isle of Man71:12,2602,387
Kazakhstan71:2,526,071102,287
Venezuela71:4,314,86839,591
American Samoa61:9,2931,961
Antigua and Barbuda61:16,5281,436
Hong Kong61:1,222,5805,222
Kenya61:7,696,65052,907
Nicaragua61:1,003,5154,885
Qatar61:393,00055,922
Czechia51:2,126,694115,412
Indonesia51:26,449,839597,308
Japan51:25,568,85950,629
South Korea51:10,248,0511,694
Afghanistan41:8,038,29630,874
Croatia41:1,057,15157,892
Dominican Republic41:2,608,23320,941
Libya41:1,560,9943,087
Malta41:107,5681,849
Oman41:921,9937,313
United States Virgin Islands41:27,5943,273
Cameroon31:6,923,023143,724
Cayman Islands31:21,2981,488
Monaco31:12,3552,088
Pakistan31:59,547,962132,569
Ukraine31:15,174,232372,501
Austria21:4,257,71899,224
Colombia21:23,887,03632,612
El Salvador21:3,171,9446,376
Georgia21:1,872,77235,618
Greece21:5,539,895129,142
Israel21:4,278,817136,311
Lebanon21:2,818,54225,087
Mauritius21:646,70813,517
Panama21:1,956,12915,285
Poland21:19,004,374199,659
Romania21:10,038,93580,612
Taiwan21:11,722,37363,559
Turkey21:38,910,711171,901
Turks and Caicos Islands21:17,164627
United Arab Emirates21:4,581,13693,443
Vietnam21:46,323,0275,235
Armenia11:2,930,18022,770
Aruba11:103,4772,586
Azerbaijan11:9,649,12247,873
Bahamas11:391,7512,737
Barbados11:287,4482,772
Belarus11:9,501,059159,228
Bolivia11:10,616,43417,077
Botswana11:2,186,92930,250
Brunei11:418,7313,893
Bulgaria11:6,978,90586,260
Cambodia11:15,487,14614,824
Chad11:13,592,19913,092
Congo11:4,989,09634,171
Curaçao11:157,2471,313
Cyprus11:884,87613,055
Dominica11:75,891912
Ecuador11:15,905,84650,210
Estonia11:1,321,80440,178
Falkland Islands11:3,132317
Fiji11:894,3914,568
Guinea11:11,833,8173,268
Ivory Coast11:23,071,23276,679
Jersey11:99,2026,620
Jordan11:8,842,43726,010
Latvia11:2,050,04660,295
Luxembourg11:580,54215,155
Madagascar11:23,649,8379,420
Moldova11:3,561,36878,271
Mongolia11:2,825,28917,010
Morocco11:34,476,099111,471
Paraguay11:7,236,74616,511
Peru11:31,784,12364,452
Puerto Rico11:3,550,1399,109
Saint Lucia11:178,7813,800
Slovakia11:5,336,450140,422
Solomon Islands11:580,02922,243
Syria11:19,301,02222,457
Tanzania11:52,941,613123,716
Togo11:7,247,76812,049
Tunisia11:610,62630,336
Uganda11:39,039,279258,887
Uruguay11:3,431,75838,295
Uzbekistan11:30,929,14267,786
Yemen11:26,425,29455,147
Zimbabwe11:15,438,240133,260
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
Ireland2,0111:2,203418
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
Scotland3,1641:1,183206
England6571:37,1014,806
Wales101:156,8426,008
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
United States11,2401:4,468556

Houston (9,467) may also be a first name.

Houston Surname Meaning

From Where Does The Surname Originate? meaning and history

This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'of Houston.' Mr. Lower writes, 'The ancient knightly family so called originally bore the name of Paduinan from a place in Lanarkshire, In the 12th cent. Hugh de P. acquired the lands of Kilpeter, and built a residence there, to which he gave the name of Hugh's Town, now Houston, Renfrewshire His descendants of that ilk borrowed their surname from it' (Patronymica Britannica). Like many another Scotch name, it is well represented in the United States.

1808. Married — Thomas Houston and Elizabeth Ladd: St. George, Hanover Square.

A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames (1896) by Charles Wareing Endell Bardsley

Of territorial origin from the old barony of the name in Lanarkshire. The ancient family of Houston originally bore the name of Paduinan, from a place of that name in Lanarkshire. In the reign of Malcolm IV Baldwin de Bigre gave the lands of Kilpeter to Hugh de Paduinan, who appears as a witness to the foundation charter of the Abbey of Paisley between 1165—73 (RMP., p. 6). Hugh's son, Reginald, obtained from Robert, son of Waldey, son of Baldwin de Bigre, a confirmation of these lands. Hugh son of Reginald again, obtained a charter from Walter Fitz-Alan, the High Steward, now become superior of the lands, wherein it is narrated that his father and grandfather held the lands of the family of Bigre (charters cited in OPS., I, p: 83). "The barony had now taken its Saxon name from the settlement of the first of these old lords-Huston or villa Hugonis" (loc. cit.). Finlay of Huwitston, witness to a Renfrew charter of late thirteenth century (ibid., I, p. 77) is probably the Fynlawe de Hustone, knight, of Lanarkshire, who rendered homage, 1296 (Bain, II, p. 203). His seal bears a fess chequy, with three (indecipherable charges) in chief. S' Finialy de Hovstvn (Macdonald, 1350). John of Hoston was canon of Carnbuskynel, 1341 (Pap. Lett., II, p. 555), Johannes de Howistone was witness in Paisley, 1406 (RMS., I, 874), and Patrick de Huyston, canon of Glasgow, 1415 (REG., 325). Aian Hawystoune held a tenement in Glasgow, 1435 (LCD., p. 250), Alexander Howstoun was repledged to liberty of burgh of Irvine, 1460 (Irvine, I, p. 27), Sir James Howstone was vicar of Estwood in 1525 (REG., 469), and Mungow Hawstoun, burgess of Glasgow, 1527 (Pollok, I, p. 256). The tenement of Thomas Hawstoune in Glasgow is mentioned in 1550, and John Hawstoune sold a bam there in same year (Protocols, I). (2) People of the name of Houston in the Canisbay district (there pronounced Hougstoun) are descended from Rev. Andrew Ogstoun (see Ogston), minister of Canisbay, Caithness (1601—1650), and the Houstons of Ross-shire are believed to be descended from Rev. Thomas Houston of Inverness, who died in 1605 (Sc. Ant., VI p. 94—96). Hawistoune and Hawistoun 1505, Hostan 1517, Hostine 1731, Houstone 1527, Houstown and Houstowne 1672, Howstone 1660, Howstoun and Howstoune 1550, Howystoun 1425, Huison 1675, Huistone 1670, Huston 1671.

The Surnames of Scotland (1946) by George Fraser Black (1866-1948)

(Scot.) belonging to Houston (Scotland) = Hugh’s Town [v. Hugh; and + Old English tún, manor, estate, &c.] ‘This parish, anciently called Kilpeter, i.e. the Cell of Peter, was granted to Hugh of Paduinan during the reign of Malcolm IV.’— Nat. Gaz., sub nomine ‘Houston,’ Renfrew. This place-name was Latinized in mediæval records de Villa Hugonis.

Surnames of the United Kingdom (1912) by Henry Harrison

A well known English name very numerous in Ulster. It is sometimes a synonym of MacQuiston, and in Donegal of MacTaghlin. MIF 14

A Guide to Irish Names (1964) by Edward MacLysaght

(Scottish) One who came from Houston (Hugh’s town), in Scotland.

Dictionary of American Family Names (1956) by Elsdon Coles Smith

The ancient knightly family so called originally bore the name of Paduinan from a place in co. Lanark. In the XII. cent. Hugh de P. acquired the lands of Kilpeter, and built a residence there, to which he gave the name of Hugh's Town, now Houston, co. Renfrew. His descendants of that Ilk borrowed their surname from it.

Patronymica Britannica (1860) by Mark Antony Lower

Local: from the parish of Houston in Renfrewshire. In the reign of Malcolm IV, 1153, Hugh Padvinan obtained the barony of Kilpeter from Baldwin of Biggar, Sheriff of Lanark, hence called Hughstoun, corrupted to Houstoun.

The Origin and Signification of Scottish Surnames (1862) by Clifford Stanley Sims (1839-1896)

Local. From the parish of Houston, in Renfrewshire, Scotland. There is an old tradition, that in the reign of Malcolm IV., A. D. 1153, Hugh Padvinan obtained a grant of the barony of Kilpeter, from Baldwin of Biggar, sheriff of Lanark, and hence called Hughstown, corrupted into Houstoun. These Houstons were of great consideration in Renfrewshire.

An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names (1857) by William Arthur

From the Flemish, Houstonn; a personal name.

British Family Names: Their Origin and Meaning (1903) by Henry Barber

Houston Last Name Facts

Where Does The Last Name Houston Come From? nationality or country of origin

The surname Houston (Arabic: هوستن) is held by more people in The United States than any other country or territory. It can appear in the variant forms:. For other potential spellings of Houston click here.

How Common Is The Last Name Houston? popularity and diffusion

The last name is the 5,731st most numerous family name on a global scale, held by approximately 1 in 73,850 people. Houston occurs predominantly in The Americas, where 67 percent of Houston are found; 67 percent are found in North America and 67 percent are found in Anglo-North America. It is also the 63,563rd most prevalent forename at a global level, borne by 9,467 people.

This last name is most widely held in The United States, where it is held by 74,040 people, or 1 in 4,895. In The United States Houston is primarily found in: California, where 8 percent are found, Georgia, where 5 percent are found and Florida, where 5 percent are found. Aside from The United States this surname occurs in 129 countries. It is also found in England, where 5 percent are found and Scotland, where 5 percent are found.

Houston Family Population Trend historical fluctuation

The occurrence of Houston has changed over time. In The United States the number of people who held the Houston last name expanded 659 percent between 1880 and 2014; in England it expanded 765 percent between 1881 and 2014; in Scotland it expanded 141 percent between 1881 and 2014; in Ireland it declined 79 percent between 1901 and 2014 and in Wales it expanded 2,320 percent between 1881 and 2014.

Houston Last Name Statistics demography

The religious adherence of those bearing the last name is primarily Presbyterian (54%) in Ireland, Christian (100%) in Kenya and Evangelical (100%) in Lebanon.

In The United States those bearing the Houston surname are 9.31% more likely to be registered with the Republican Party than the national average, with 56.08% being registered to vote for the party.

The amount Houston earn in different countries varies greatly. In Norway they earn 122.14% more than the national average, earning 768,777 kr per year; in South Africa they earn 53.81% more than the national average, earning R 365,508 per year; in United States they earn 9% less than the national average, earning $39,267 USD per year and in Canada they earn 4.97% more than the national average, earning $52,154 CAD per year.

Phonetically Similar Names

SurnameSimilarityWorldwide IncidencePrevalency
Houstoun93347/
Houstone9331/
Housston934/
Houeston931/
Houtston931/
Housthon931/
Hhouston930/
Houstonn930/
Houstoon930/
Houjston930/
Houshton930/
Huston9225,599/
Hoston92711/
Houton92531/
Ouston92227/
Housstton881/
Heuston861,048/
Houeton861,043/
Hotston86418/
Hudston8691/
Houstan8668/
Choston8658/
Hauston8637/
Hooston8617/
Ehouton8613/
Houthon8611/
Hodston869/
Chuston869/
Houstom867/
Oushton865/
Hoiston864/
Hoyston864/
Houtoin864/
Houtong864/
Jouston863/
Houtton863/
Huoston863/
Houhton863/
Huuston862/
Gouston862/
Huiston861/
Khouton861/
Husston861/
Hoeston861/
Hustton861/
Houstun861/
Chouton861/
Hutston860/
Hustone860/
Hustond860/
Hhoston860/
Houtoon860/
Hostoen860/
Outon831,170/
Hoton83164/
Huton83143/
Oston83109/
Uston8389/
Houtoing80536/
Hotstone8084/
Houthton8011/
Heustone8010/
Heueston807/
Choutong806/
Chauston805/
Huddston804/
Khoutoon803/
Huidston802/
Houchton802/
Houyoton802/
Huthston801/
Houehton801/
Huiaston801/
Heutston801/
Hoschton801/
Houetone801/
Houjhton801/
Hudstone801/
Houtoung801/
Haoueton801/
Choutgon801/
Houthong801/
Howeston800/
Husstoon800/
Hutton7757,618/
Hooton774,997/
Gouton773,190/
Choton773,149/
Haston773,062/
Hotton771,614/
Auston771,079/
Huyton771,046/
Juston77888/
Oyston77834/
Euston77691/
Guston77660/
Heuton77470/
Goston77450/
Houtan77441/
Outoun77425/
Hauton77251/
Hotong77204/
Khoton77177/
Chuton77168/
Ostoin77145/
Joston77115/
Ahston7746/
Hothon7746/
Hustan7745/
Khuton7740/
Huxton7738/
Hoxton7731/
Hostan7725/
Ostone7713/
Huiton779/
Hutong779/
Hoyton778/
Outton778/
Outong776/
Oeston776/
Hutoon774/
Ueston774/
Ustoen774/
Oustan774/
Hotone774/
Hoeton773/
Hoiton772/
Houtom772/
Hotoun772/
Oiston771/
Ushton771/
Hozton771/
Ostong771/
Uszton771/
Ustton771/
Hostun771/
Hodton770/
Utston770/
Udston770/
Hustun770/
Oustun770/
Hohton770/
Hustom770/
Ostoon770/
Chouthong7512/
Hautstone754/
Chouytong752/
Hohuetton751/
Oton737,975/
Uton73913/
Hothong712,162/
Chaston711,461/
Heaston711,225/
Chutong71456/
Houthan71398/
Chotton71397/
Khutoon71211/
Heiston71205/
Hayston71203/
Hoyeton71184/
Chuiton71163/
Huchton71160/
Hushtan71139/
Chhoton71131/
Auzston71124/
Khotoon71108/
Hastone71106/
Haiston7176/
Hottong7161/
Khotton7155/
Cheuton7154/
Hieston7146/
Haustan7135/
Chotong7125/
Khoiton7121/
Hootton7116/
Khothon7116/
D'Uston7115/
Chouythong7115/
Howeton7113/
Goustan7113/
Houttan7113/
Goueton7113/
Khauton7112/
Houetan7112/
Choutan7110/
Khooton719/
Chauton719/
Chuyton719/
Hoitong719/
Houtang718/
Austton718/
Juiston717/
Khostan717/
Justton716/
Huitong716/
Outtone716/
Chothon716/
Choiton715/
Chooton715/
Ashston714/
Khoutan714/
Joyston714/
O'Stone714/
Khotoun713/
Khutton713/
Houtane713/
Chotoon713/
Hoytong713/
Gohston712/
Jhutton712/
Huitton712/
Hotoing712/
Austone712/
Ostound711/
Outhton711/
Chostan711/
Hautoon711/
Huttomn711/
Huttont711/
Huestan711/
Chustan711/
Chustun711/
Euiston711/
Gusston711/
Goiston711/
Ahyston711/
Athston711/
Hotoint711/
Khojestoun711/
Khaston711/
Ostogne711/
Outtoun711/
Goutoun711/
Goutton711/
Gustoin711/
Guuston711/
Austhon711/
Chutton711/
Osttone711/
Oustane711/
Outoune711/
Hootong711/
Hottohn711/
Hasston710/
Aushton710/
Hashton710/
Houxtan710/
Hoyhton710/
Hustand710/
Hastond710/
Heustan710/
Heutton710/
Ottston710/
Hadston710/
Hottoon710/
Ousthan710/
Eudston710/
Haustom710/
Hustung710/
Hoystan710/
Hoostan710/
Hoython710/
Hosthan710/
Gooston710/
Hautton710/
Aston6721,786/
Otong675,278/
Ostonova674,557/
Ostan674,152/
Otgon673,770/
Auton672,460/
Utong671,765/
Otton671,537/
Haton671,294/
Oxton67928/
Hotan67832/
Utton67777/
Otone67724/
Chootong67714/
Hutan67684/
Haustant67535/
Ustun67488/
Juton67449/
Odton67377/
Euton67331/
Goton67196/
Guton67169/
Ooton67154/
Ustan67127/
Choithon67119/
Chothong67116/
Hoithong6759/
Joton6751/
Chuttong6745/
Ohton6743/
Heastont6735/
Hotochin6735/
Outan6735/
Choutang6733/
Khoshtan6731/
Hayaston6731/
Outón6730/
Chhotton6729/
Utoon6727/
Chottong6725/
Oiton6718/
Hoythong6718/
Utone6717/
Khotthon6716/
Khastoon6714/
Ahton6713/
Khautoon6712/
Ostun6712/
Khotoone6711/
Chouytan6711/
Ustom6710/
Chodtong6710/
Chhustun679/
Khootoon679/
Johhston678/
Chhoiton677/
Hotom677/
Ahashton676/
Cheaston675/
Cheutong675/
Hotthong675/
Choytong675/
Ostom674/
Hauthton674/
Otond674/
Ototn674/
Khoithon674/
Udton674/
Chautong673/
Choutane673/
Uiton672/
Chuitong672/
Utonk672/
Hadstone672/
Hoothong672/
Chudtong672/
Joshston671/
Oostoing671/
Chostung671/
Chhustan671/
Hauchton671/
Heastone671/
Housthuysen671/
Haieston671/
Haitston671/
Ustonova671/
Outom671/
Otoin671/
Houttane671/
Hustahan671/
Hujgiton671/
Hoitoing671/
Khostgan671/
Oyton671/
O'Easton671/
Ustün671/
Hadstoun671/
D'Hutton671/
Chothoon671/
Chotthon671/
Chouetan671/
Chauyton671/
Choothon671/
Chootone671/
Chootoun671/
Haisston670/
Chastone670/
Heistond670/
Ashshton670/
Howetton670/
Chautoin670/
Aioeston670/
Howetoun670/
Uhton670/
Otoon670/
Haweston670/
Hoistand670/

Houston Name Transliterations

TransliterationICU LatinPercentage of Incidence
Houston in the Arabic language
هوستنhwstn-
هيوستنhywstn-

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Houston Reference & Research

Donegal Houstons FamilyTree DNA Group - A group collating DNA test results for those who bear the surname, includes results of DNA tests and discussions.

Owston / Ouston FamilyTree DNA Group - A group collating DNA test results for those who bear the surname, includes results of DNA tests and discussions.

Donegal Houstons FamilyTree DNA Project - A description of a group researching the paternal lines of men who bear the surname with the help of DNA analysis.

Owston / Ouston FamilyTree DNA Project - A description of a group researching the paternal lines of men who bear the surname with the help of DNA analysis.

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Footnotes

  • Surnames are taken as the first part of an person's inherited family name, caste, clan name or in some cases patronymic
  • Descriptions may contain details on the name's etymology, origin, ethnicity and history. They are largely reproduced from 3rd party sources; diligence is advised on accepting their validity - more information
  • Name distribution statistics are generated from a global database of over 4 billion people - more information
  • Heatmap: Dark red means there is a higher occurrence of the name, transitioning to light yellow signifies a progressively lower occurrence. Clicking on selected countries will show mapping at a regional level
  • Rank: Name are ranked by incidence using the ordinal ranking method; the name that occurs the most is assigned a rank of 1; name that occur less frequently receive an incremented rank; if two or more name occur the same number of times they are assigned the same rank and successive rank is incremented by the total preceeding names
  • Ethnic group cannot necessarily be determined by geographic occurrence
  • Similar: Names listed in the "Similar" section are phonetically similar and may not have any relation to Houston
  • To find out more about this surname's family history, lookup records on Family​Search, My​Heritage, FindMyPast and Ancestry. Further information may be obtained by DNA analysis