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A brief history of the LISTON Family

        The name Liston is of Norman origin. The first Liston is believed to have come to England with William the Conqueror in 1066 and settled in Essex. Here the family possessed lands, still designated Liston Manor, in the parish of Liston.

        It was their privilege to prepare the wafers for the coronation of the Kings. At this time they are referred to as the knightly family of Liston or de Liston.

        The family motto is Poco a poca -  Little by little.

   On one of the English invasions of Scotland in about 1165, some of the Listons settled in the Lothians. This branch of the family produced many notable people including a surgeon, an ambassador and many clergymen.

 

        In the year 1171, another Liston accompanied King Henry II to Ireland and was given land in County Limerick. It remained in the hands of the family until 1655 when it was confiscated by Oliver Cromwell and given to the Protestant Bishop of Limerick.

        The Listons branched out into the various townships of Limerick where most Irish Listons live nowadays.

 

          Throughout the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, bearers of the surname emigrated to places such as the United States, Australasia and South Africa. 

                There are in excess of 8,000 Listons in the world today!

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