An old surname in the parish of Corstorphine, Edinburgh, where a family of this name held the land to the east of the village known as 'Yorkstounis.' William Yorstoun and James Yorkstoun were burgesses and charter witnesses in Edinburgh, 1484 (REG., 433), Thomas Yorstoun was goldsmith in Edinburgh, 1672 (Edinb. Marr.), and Edward Yorkstoun was recorded heir of his father, Thomas Yorstoun or Yorston, goldsmith and burgess of Edinburgh, 1685 (Inquis., 6689, 8735). A family of the same name is early found in Orkney. Robert Yorkstoun is recorded as 'quondam' tacksman of the links of Burray in 1492 and 1502 (REO., p. 405,412), Robartt Yorkstane was on an assize concerning the rights of grazing on the island of Saba, 1509 (OSR., I, p. 252), William Yorgstone was witness in Kirkwall, 1508 (REO., p. 80), and William ȝjorstone was one of those respited for the slaughter of John, erle of Cathnes, 1539 (RSS., II, 3151). "An early connection of the Yorstons with Burray is indicated by the old rental, but they can have been no more than tacksmen there. The evidence of the Uthel book points strongly to Rowsay as their home, and is corroborated by later documents, and by the fact of an early marriage with the Craigies of Brough" (REO., p. 401). Herbert G. Yorston died in Fife, 1939. Yorgston 1735.

YORSTOUN, Yorston, Yourston, Yorkson: An old surname in the parish of Corstorphine, Edinburgh, where a family of this name held the land to the east of the village known as 'Yorkstounis.' William Yorstoun and James Yorkstoun were burgesses and charter witnesses in Edinburgh, 1484 (REG., 433), Thomas Yorstoun was goldsmith in Edinburgh, 1672 (Edinb. Marr.), and Edward Yorkstoun was recorded heir of his father, Thomas Yorstoun or Yorston, goldsmith and burgess of Edinburgh, 1685 (Inquis., 6689, 8735). A family of the same name is early found in Orkney. Robert Yorkstoun is recorded as 'quondam' tacksman of the links of Burray in 1492 and 1502 (REO., p. 405,412), Robartt Yorkstane was on an assize concerning the rights of grazing on the island of Saba, 1509 (OSR., I, p. 252), William Yorgstone was witness in Kirkwall, 1508 (REO., p. 80), and William ȝjorstone was one of those respited for the slaughter of John, erle of Cathnes, 1539 (RSS., II, 3151). "An early connection of the Yorstons with Burray is indicated by the old rental, but they can have been no more than tacksmen there. The evidence of the Uthel book points strongly to Rowsay as their home, and is corroborated by later documents, and by the fact of an early marriage with the Craigies of Brough" (REO., p. 401). Herbert G. Yorston died in Fife, 1939. Yorgston 1735.