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Most of us American Gastons trace our lineage back to "Jean Gaston the Huguenot," born in France around 1600. The legends on both sides of the Atlantic are remarkably similar -- this original Huguenot emigré fled to Scotland around 1640, and his sons (the precise number varies) moved to Northern Ireland in the 1660s.
That part of the legend checks out, as we have found a number of adult male Gastons living in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, in 1665-69. The timing also is right, as the political climate of the early 1660s resulted in a widespread exodus of Scottish Presbyterians to Northern Ireland.
However, in both the Irish and New England branches of the family, there is a tradition that "Gaston" was not the Huguenot's real name. In one version, it was his middle name, which he dropped upon arriving in Scotland. In another version, "Gaston" was the first name of the Huguenot's eldest son, which was adopted as a surname after the move to Ulster.
According to a 1925 letter written by William Alexander Gaston, son of Gov. William Gaston of Massachusetts, "Jannet Thompson, who married my first ancestor in this country, John Gaston, born 1703, used to talk of it. But the name, then unused for several generations, was considered unimportant and was forgotten. This fact was stated by my grandfather, Alexander Gaston. He used to hear her mention the name."
There is some support for this tradition in the fact that "Gaston" is far more common in France as a given name than as a family name. In addition, many Huguenots >did< change their names after leaving France, presumably to avoid detection.
Of course this name change, if it occurred, would be a blow to those of us trying to trace the family all the way back to its French origins, but it's an issue that needs to be addressed.
So I'm putting it out to the Forum: Does the "name change" legend exist in your line? If so, is there any indication of what the original name was?
Patrick Gaston
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