From the lands or barony of Ralston near Paisley, Renfrewshire. Crawfurd says Ralph, a younger son of one of the earls of Fife, obtained a grant of the lands from the High Stewerd, but Nisbet says this is not favored by their arms, for they do not cany the lion rampant, the arms of the old earls of Fife, but three acorns on a bend, intimating that they are of the same stock with those of the surname Muirhead. The first of the family recorded is said to be Nicholas de Ralstoun who witnessed the donation of Fulton by Sir Anthony Lombard to the monks of Paisley in 1272 (RMP., p. 51). Thomas de Raulfestone of Lanerkshire rendered homage in 1296 (Bain, II, p. 204), and Jacobus de Raulyston, dominus efusdem, witnessed the election of an abbot of Paisley, 1346 (RMP., p. 10). John Raleston or Raliston of that Ilk was one of the arbiters in a dispute between the burgh of Renfrew and the abbot of Paisley in 1488 (ibid., p. 406-407), Robert Ralston was clerk to the bishop of Caithness in 1504 (OPS., II, p. 623), Hendrie Ralstoun witnessed letters of reversion in 1519 (Pollok, I, p. 241), and Hugh de Ralston of Ralston was killed in the battle of Pinkie, 1547. The estate of Ralston was sold by the family in 1705 to the earl of Dundonald. William Ralston Shedden Ralston (1828—1889) was a distinguished Russian scholar and folklorist. Railstoune 1550, Ralfahstoun c. 1440, Rallstoun 1684, Ralstoune 1656. Raylston (of that Ilk).

(English, Scottish) One who came from Rolleston (Hrolf's homestead), the name of several places in England; one who came from the lands of Ralston, in Renfrewshire.

The Ralstons "of that Ilk" are descended from the Mac Duffs, Thanes or Earls of Fife, one of whom had a son Ralph. The latter, obtaining a grant of lands in Renfrewshire, called them after his own name, Ralplis-toune. In process of time, his descendants, continuing on the same estate, wrote themselves De Ralphstoune, or, by softened pronunciation, Ralston. See Crawford's Renfrewshire. See an analogous instance, in Fetherstonhaugh, of a place originally deriving its appellation from the personal name of its owner, and afterwards, with an addition, becoming the hereditary surname of his descendants.

Local: from the lands of Ralston in Renfrewshire. The family are descended from Ralph, son of Macduff, Thane of Fife, who obtained a grant of lands in Renfrewshire, which he called Ralphstoan, corrupted to Ralston. The Ralstons of that ilk are mentioned in charters as far back as 1272 and 1346; and early in the fifteenth century John de Ralstoune or Ralphstoun was Lord High Treasurer and Bishop of Dunkeld.

Local. Ralph, one of the descendants of Mao Duff, Thane of Fife, obtained a grant of land in Renfrewshire, and, as was common in those days, called he place after himself, Ralphstown, which was softened into Ralston.

(Scotch), Ralph's town. (variant: Johnston.)