Hugh de Pad'inan is the progenitor of the Houston clan*.
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| Painting done by Alexandar MacMillan |
After Hugh was knighted by Malcom the IV, King of Scotland, he built a castle near Edinburgh in Renfrewshire. He also built a small village near the castle. The natives called it Hugh's Town.
When it became necessary to take on a surname, his son just took on the name of the town. And that was how the Houston family was born.
Hugh's Town --> Houstoun-->Houston
During the reign of Alexander III (1249-1286) the castle was considered one of the strongest fortresses in the country.
Maybe that's because it had a hidden staircase and a mile-long underground tunnel leading to another castle. I think it would have made a great setting for a Scooby Doo episode.
The castle stayed in the family for 600 years. In 1722, Sir John Houstoun the 3rd died leaving the estate in debt that would have been $283, 330 in U.S. money. A baron whose estate is in debt? Where have I heard that before?
So the castle was sold to the late John Houstoun's brother-in-law, John Schaw. Who sold it to a guy from Jamaica, Sir James Campbell, who sold it to Mr. James Macrae. James Macrae didn't like the village so close to the castle. His solution? Tear down three-quarters of the castle. The walls were so thick it took gunpowder to get them to come down.
In 1782 Lady Ann Spiers bought what was left of the castle and built a home attached to it called the Houston House.
Now it looks like this.
I wonder if it still has that hidden staircase.
*Most of this information for this story is from a book "Ancestors and Descendants of James Houston and Margaret Crawford" written by Elaine Houston McPhie, published in 1987.
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We're distant cousins ... Very cool. My family goes all the way back to this line as well.
ReplyDeleteSir John is my 10th Grandfather.
ReplyDeleteL.D.
I am a great-great-great grandson of Sam Houston, and actually visited the estate and the house back in 1986. I have pictures from that trip still at my home in Virginia.
ReplyDeleteI am a descendant of Gen Sam Houston also and if there was a Archibald Houston in his family would love to hear from you .b,houston86@yahoo.com
DeleteI'm also a descendant of General Sam Houston
DeleteI am also a Houston in Northern Virginia.
DeleteIn Hebrew, gingi is slang for red haired people.most Ginger roots are not red so this makes sense to me now.
DeleteIt's not meant to be bad calling one Ginger. Biblical Jacob was redhaired as many others in those days, even Ginger mummy in Egypt n Ramses II n more pharaohs
My name is John Houston and I have traced my ancestry back to Hugh and other numerous Scottish royalty and very proud of it. I hope to travel to Houston House and surrounding areas within the next few years.
DeleteThe Houston's originated from Ireland and then well actually the originated from Saxony Germany and then a good portion of a migrated to Ireland and then from Ireland to Scotland where according to my research after saving I believe it was Prince Edwards III maybe the 2nd he gave him a bunch of land and therefore they created the Houston Town Houston Castle I know the castles been there for some time it's possible they even took over the castle honestly I don't know all the history I just have a very limited amount of information I'm not very good at looking this information up but this is what I've gathered so far. So when you say the Houston's of Ireland it's very possible that you're related to the ones of Scotland because that's where they ended up cuz ones that lived in Ireland live near Queen Abby's Castle I believe and then migrated to Scott which I believe is the Houston family of the Sam Houston bloodline.
DeleteTrying to find connection to Archibald Houston of Scotland decedents.. Wondering if any connection Gen Sam Houston also. b.houston86@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteOur family is houston from Ireland and our tree show’s connection to Sam houston and also George Washington
DeleteMcrae tore down 3/4 of the castle? Grrrrrr....
ReplyDeleteJames and margaret are my great grandparents. Add me on facebook if you'd like to chat: alice houston houston
ReplyDeleteI am also a descendant of James Houston. However, the James I am related to, was a Presbyterian Minister who made the trip to the Colonies in the early 1700's, and in 1733, was the clerk for the Presbyterian Church in North America, based out of Philadelphia. The family made it to New York, and settled there.
ReplyDeleteThe surname was de Paduinan. Hugh was a Knights Templar, and built the castle along those lines. He died at the Battle of Hattin 14 July 1187, during a crusade. He was old to attend a crusade, and may have gone to save his son. In early records the family name was 'Huston'. It then had branches called, 'Houston' and 'Euston'. Family features have been passed down, particularly the 'forehead'. We have not been able to find antecedents prior to Hugh. He may have come from Belgium, Normandy or France. See Facebook - Rob Houston.
ReplyDeleteLOL are you referring to the what i call fiveheads
DeleteI am Russell James Houston of the Uriah Houston and Harriet Barker line. All of this is of great ntrest
ReplyDeleteHi Russell I have been trying to post below with regard the Houston building but my messagesdo not seem to get posted ? Have you an email address?
DeleteDeniis.deakin@gmail.com
My name is John Houston from Pa. I have traced my ancestry back to Hugh and other Scottish royalty and very proud of it. I am in the process of having my Y DNA done to further verify my connection.
DeleteMy mother is a Huston. Through research, Sam Houston is her 33rd cousin. This is on her paternal side. On her maternal side, Santa Anna is also a cousin. I would love to know more or hear from a relative! bswtch62@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteMy Huston line was from Xenia Ohio. I too am related through James Huston.
ReplyDeleteMy husband's family comes from Renfrewshire Houston bloodline. We currently in NZ
ReplyDeleteI am the 7th great grand daughter of John T Houston currently living in WA state
ReplyDeleteI have found a building in ohio that was built by descendants of the Houston’s of Renfrewshire and I wish to renovate the building and make it into a Central American genealogy centre for the Houston’s.it is in a district of historical interest and will be an as yet unknown building of historical interest with all historical facts researched . Should anyone wish to be a part of the development of this venture please contact me
ReplyDeleteDennis.deakin@yahoo.com.
My names is Russell James Houston, could you provide more information on this project. Things like names of the said Houston's, significant dates, particular historical interests, and projected amounts of money requesting for renovation, Thanx
DeleteI have extensive information to back up my project above referred .i have tried to post a reply but it has not been posted . Any party interested please forward email address. Deniis.deakin@gmail.com.
DeleteI'm a Huston, still living in the same town in OH, Hamilton county, where my 7th grandfather, paul Huston, was an early settler. He came to OH in 1795 with his brothers, from Lancaster County, PA. All i know is his father's name was John Houston died 1794. I Can't verify anything prior. There's ideas and rumours, but i can't tie it together.Too many irish/scot Huston/Houstons in PA during 1700s
DeleteI wonder if we're related because the 1700s is about the time that my grandmother on my father's side did the research and that's about the time that one of the Houstons I'm related to came to and I believe Pennsylvania during the 1700s I believe that general Sam Houston is related to that particular individual. After my father passed away his brother Jay Houston my uncle sent me the family bible / history book I wonder if the name Paul Houston is that correct. That my grandma did research on regarding the Houston family I wonder if that's the name that was written down for the person that arrived in Pennsylvania and the 1700s if so then I am directly related to that person. But the way I see it anybody who's in Houston that's related to Sam Houston or a cousin or whatnot we're all family.
Deleteawesome..would be keen to see what you develop. We have links to Sam Houston USA
ReplyDeleteSam Houston was one of my great grandfather's I forget how many greats but I do have the family Bible of the Houston family and the family tree that came with this Bible still trying to update it.
ReplyDeleteIt came in the mail after my father Scott William Houston passed away on April 7th 2019
He was 58 when he passed away.
Finally something priceless priceless artifact cuz I would like to call it this book is 1800 years old.
I would love to have one massive family gathering when this whole covid-19 crap is over bring all the Houstons together preferably in Scotland in the town of Houston returning back to where we once all came from unfortunately I can't afford such an event but maybe someday. that's one of the things on my bucket list.
ReplyDeleteAny descendants of Andrew Jackson Houston for those that don't know Sam Houston's many sons that he had one of them was named Andrew Jackson Houston he was named after one of our many presidents Andrew Jackson who is a mentor to Sam Houston and also Sam Houston's Commander in the Alamo war.
ReplyDeleteI am looking extensively at the Houston’s with regard the building referred above . Could you send me pictures of a couple of pages of your bible around Andrew Jackson houstons time I know they were linked with the quakers and the Todd’s in Kentucky.
DeleteWould you like to trade information? Did you know that various houstons surrounded Lincoln , that the familly was linked to Mary Todd Lincoln , a houston was there on the night of the assassination and that a Houston familly member claimed to be holding a fresh getaway horse for the assassin. Deniis.deakin@gmail.com
I have a list of names that my grandmother Lynn who is married to my grandfather my grandmother was not a Houston until she married my grandfather and my grandma Lynn did a good portion of the research regarding the Houston family and I will as time goes on post that on this site.
ReplyDeleteSo that all you Houston's out there can start doing your own research if you haven't done it already and see if any of us have more in common then we think then with the list of names that I will be providing as the weeks go on.
and maybe one of your Houston's out there can help me finish this family tree / Bible and get it up to date so I can pass it on to the next generation but once I complete the book I will be making digital copies to send out all of the Houston families eventually.
and also including with that I'm going to try and write a book and how my adventure of finding the information to complete the family book begin and ended.
Lots and lots of research starting from the first Houston all the way down to my timeline and the next generations timeline and so on and so forth.
If there's anyone out there willing to help love to talk with you and try to figure this all out too bad we can't have one big giant group meeting damnes covid-19 oh well I guess we'll have to improvise over computer yay LOL... oh and if anyone's wondering what that remark now I'm not a big fan of these damn technological computer devices...
But they help reconnect with those that are part of the Houston family without technology at probably would have never found anybody...
So that is one positive to having technology...
Oh and my full name is Joshua Daniel Houston if anybody wishes to know...
ReplyDeleteI currently live in Mohave valley Arizona real close to bullhead City and Laughlin Nevada & California... so if there are any Houston's out there that would want to meet up someday let me know my email is joshuahouston16@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteWill do lunch after covid-19 is over of course...
To all my distant family of the Houston family I hope all is well in your home and in your lives I hope that all of you stay safe until this damn pandemic is done and over with and I hope one day Sunday I can finally scratch that family reunions for the Houston family off my bucket list...
God bless to all and Godspeed/prospal journey may we all meet someday...
Did not mean to put the word Sunday in their meant to put the word someday.
ReplyDeleteDamn these phones LOL!!!...
ReplyDeletewow! When I opened my email there were comments from Joshua Houston.... we have a Joshua Houston in our family too!! My husband's family is related to Sam Houston, also to Sir Hugh in Renfrewshire, Scotland. His father had done a lot of research over the family tree (without the aid of a computer I might add!) and has traced his family back from NZ to Scotland.
ReplyDeleteI know this reply was sent to a while back. I don't often check this site out. After my father passed away his brother Jay Houston sent me the family Bible / family history book and it pretty much gives an entire background starting from when the first Houston arrived on the docks I believe it was in I want to say Pennsylvania or Virginia I'll have to look at it again so I am directly related to general Sam Houston. But it's nice to know that there's another Josh Houston I was kind of hoping I was the only one but have you ever noticed that a lot of the males in the Houston family their names start with the letter j always found that fascinating I wonder why that is. Maybe cuz it rhymes the word jackass as my mother used to call me sometimes LOL. She would say jackass Josh LOL.
DeleteCarol
ReplyDeleteWe also are related to Campbell Houston from Renfrew and had a son Thomas Houston who moved to Belfast and helped design the Titanic
We are are resident in NZ and our Mums Mum was Colin Houston from Belfast
Keith Holmes
Oops Colina.....
ReplyDeleteI am replying to an inquiry I read from Ruth Mildt, I am also directly descended from William Huston and Jean McAllen,through their daughter Margaret. Hope Khweis
ReplyDeleteI'm also a descendant living in Alabama now.I was born in TX. Also related to Sir Hugh. There are lots of us.
ReplyDeleteMother's ancestry goes back to a Christopher or John Christopher Houston.
ReplyDeleteMe too Briony Jane C nee Houstoun back to Hygh de Padinan
ReplyDeleteMy grandmother's maiden name was Patricia Huston. My father and brother carry the Huston name by keeping it as a middle name. I am a direct descendent of Sir Hugh and Sam Houston, and I was born in Houston Texas that carries his name. My grandmother's great uncle wrote and published a book that traced our roots back to Houston Scotland. I am a History Grad looking to spend a year or so living in Scotland and learning more about our great family. While I no longer carry the Huston name, my children will carry it as a middle name to remind them of our great history.
ReplyDeleteHuston, Cleburne. Bold Legacy: The Story of the Houston - Huston Ancestors, Library Binding Co., 1968.
ReplyDeleteThis is the ancestral legacy that I mentioned above. It is quite hard to come by, but if you do find a copy, it is incredibly interesting and contains a wealth of knowledge about the history of Clan Houston
Hello!! I’m from Idaho and my mother is a Huston. My Great Great Uncle, Ben (Benjamin ) Huston, donated the land for the town Huston here in Idaho. Currently I am in Scotland near Edinburgh. Is their anyway you have the address or location for the Huston House so that I may visit?
ReplyDeleteMy biological father's last name is Stone, and I don't know much about the man. I begrudgingly met him when I was forty, Anyways, a few years later, after he had passed away I decided to do a DNA test through Ancestry, and I found out through exhaustive work that I am related to Sir Hugh. I love reading your stories about Sir Hugh and his family. I know that you've left some names of books to read, but I want to learn more about him (Sir Hugh), and how they got here to the Americas. And more about my family on his side. Are there websites in Scotland that you are aware of? Or if you can put me in touch with other family members who also do this research? I really have low expectations, but I would be forever so grateful if you could please help me out?
ReplyDeleteI am interested to know if anyone has information linking the Houstons of Wilmington, NC to Houston Castle in Scotland. We can trace our Houston line from Sam Houston (born 1916) back through.... George Houston..... William Houston.... and on to a Dr. William Houston of England & American colonies.
ReplyDeleteMy grandmother was Martha Huston from Gadsden, Alabama and we have records going back to Abbeville, South Carolina. It was family lore that we were related to Sam Houston. Would love more websites or books of information to see our connection.
ReplyDeleteWhy hasn't anyone commented on the fact in the opening paragraph the writer states he erected a castle in Edingburgh,Renfrewshire geographically I find that hard to fathom! P.G.(Houston-Dreppenstedt)Dempster
ReplyDeletePretty sure it was near Glasgow, I’m a direct descendent of the House of Bruce, The House of Stewart (Stuart), and The Houston’s
DeleteYes Russell. Johnstone castle that was built and owned by the Houstons is just out of Glasgow in the town of Johnstone. We visited there in 1998. The only part still standing is the main tower. All other parts of the castle were dismantled and used to build houses for the POW post war according to an old scottish man who lived in the town. Houston House (which looks like a castle) is about a mile from the town of Houston in Scotland. We also visited but it was divided private rooms then .
ReplyDeleteHello, I am Robin Huston-Miller my Father Larry Laverne Huston. My father's roots were traced straight back into the Lordship time. All of our family have the true trait of Red hair and blue eyes. I wish we could all get together to rebuild this magnificent castle.
ReplyDeleteCool and that i have a super offer: Who Does House Renovation prefab home addition
ReplyDeleteHoustons here from this line, in Detroit Michigan
ReplyDelete