Welcome to the website of the Vanstone Family This website is intended to offer easy access to data and research sources for any member of the Vanstone clan, along with a means of keeping in touch and sharing information.

Robin would like to hear from any Vanstones in Australia. Contact Robin

Family Origins.

Alas, we have no family crest or coat of arms, but the family is an old one from Devon (not from the Netherlands).

The name is probably derived from a place Faunteston, either in Warbstow in Cornwall (mentioned in 1284 in the Assize Rolls) or in Shaugh Prior in South Devon (mentioned in 1339). Some of the earliest parish records spell the name as Vaunstone.

Ricardus Fanston was tonsured in 1440 and Frater Henricus Fanston was at Plympton Priory in 1445.

According to J.E Gover in "Place Names of Cornwall", Faunteston derives from an Old French personal name Faunt, aphetic for the French enfant (child). Also the name is probably associated with the family of Samson le Enfaunt, a juror of Plympton Hundred in 1249” in the Assize Rolls.

Maybe.

Vanstones are listed in the 1524 Subsidy Rolls for Devon at Tetcott, Ashwater, North Petherwin, Parkham and Clawton.

See the map section to identify these places.

Updates to this website

14/7/2010	New tree (13): William Vanstone and Mary Osbourn. thanks to Mark Will: Christopher Vanstone of Dolton plus updates to parish registers Plus Searchable Tree updated.
17/7/2010	Histories and Gallery revamped. New photos and stories.
18/7/2010	New page: genealogical links
23/7/2010	new Australian Immigration records, thanks to Brad. new Wills index new records: Early Records