OCSTON, Ogstone: From the lands of Hogeston in Moray. There was a place Hogyston in the parish of Innerkelour in 1528 (RAA., II, 710), also lands of Ugistoun in the lordship of Lauder in 1557 (ER., XIX, p. 415). The first of the name recorded is Symon de Hogeston who appears in a deed (between 1224-42) settling a controversy between himself and Andrew, bishop of Moray, concerning some portions of the lands of Hogeston, ceded for the sake of peace and in pure and perpetual alms on behalf of his father and mother and all his ancestors, showing that the family possessed the lands anterior to this date (REM., p. 110-111). John de Oguston who witnessed a grant in favor of the chaplain of St. Peter at Duffus in 1240 (ibid., p. 275) may be the John de Oggiston, one of the inquisition concerning the lands of Mefth in 1262 (APS., I, p. 101). He also appears twice as a charter witness within the same period (REM., p. Ill, 112). Alexander de Hogeston rendered homage for his lands at Elgin in 1296 (Bain, II, p. 195). Reginald de Oggynston, scholar of civil law of the diocese of Moray, was appointed to the chancellorship of the church of Glasgow in 1343 (Pap. Pet., I, p. 14), in 1362, as de Ogghistoun, he paid the arrears of tenth penny of the see of Aberdeen (ER., I, p. 110), and in 1366, as de Oggistone, he is recorded as a canon of Aberdeen (REA., II, p. 58). John de Ogystoun or Ogistoun, dominus ejusdem, was present at the perambulation of the bounds of Tarwas and Wldny in 1417 (RAA., II, 53). In 1473 Alexander Ogstoun of that Ilk had licence under the Privy Seal of James III to sell his lands of Ogstoun in the lordship of Moray (Innes familie, p. 80, 81). John Hugstoun or Ogstoun was charter witness at Inveraray, 1575 (Notes and Queries, 11 July, 1931, p. 22)."The name Ogstone which appears in the Registers of Caithness is evidently that borne by some of the descendants of the Rev. Andrew Ogstone, minister of Canisbay (1601—1650). The name has been changed in modern times into Houston, but its old connection with Hogstown in Strathbogie, from which the name originates, has been persistently maintained through the centuries in the Caithness folk pronunciation of Houston as 'Hougston'" (Rev. D. Beaton in his preface to Canisbay Records). The Ogstons of the parish of Slains are said to have assumed their name from the farm of the same name in the south end of the parish. Howgstown 1496, Ogistone 1487, Ogistoun 1545, Ogistoune 1483, Oigsone 1663, Oigstone 1664, Ogstone 1509, Ogystovn 1468, Ugstoun 1574, Ugstoune 1632.