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Irish surname

Eustace: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Iústás · 'son of Eustace' (a common personal name in France, introduced into England by the Normans)

Woulfe (1923) gives Eustace as Iústás, 'son of Eustace', a common French personal name brought into England by the Normans. The Eustaces came to Ireland at the Anglo-Norman invasion, obtained large estates in Kildare and Carlow, and were one of the leading families of the Pale. In 1580 James Eustace, Viscount Baltinglas, took up arms for the Catholic faith and, with the O'Byrnes and O'Tooles, defeated Lord Grey at Glenmalure; after the rising failed he fled to Spain, and 17th-century confiscations and attainders 'completed the ruin of the family'. In 1890 there were only 9 Eustace birth entries in Ireland, principally found in Dublin.

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Coat of arms associated with the Eustace surname
Irish formIústás
Meaning'son of Eustace' (a common personal name in France, introduced into England by the Normans)
CountiesKildare, Carlow, Dublin
Other spellings2

Origin of the Eustace name

Woulfe: Iústás, 'son of Eustace' (a common French personal name introduced into England by the Normans). The Eustaces came to Ireland at the Anglo-Norman invasion and obtained large estates in Kildare and Carlow, becoming one of the leading families of the Pale.[1]

  1. 1452Four Masters: Sir Edward Eustace was appointed Lord Justice.[4]
  2. 1454Four Masters: Sir Edward Eustace, Lord Justice of Ireland, died.[5]
  3. 1486Four Masters: the monastery of Kilcullen 'was commenced on the bank of the Liffey, by Roland, son of Sir Edward Eustace'.[6]
  4. 1580Four Masters: James Eustace broke down his castles after embracing 'the Catholic faith'.[7]
  5. 18909 Eustace birth entries in Ireland, principally found in Dublin.[2]

Where in Ireland

Co. KildareWoulfe: the Eustaces obtained large estates here after the Anglo-Norman invasion.[1]
Co. CarlowWoulfe: the Eustaces also obtained large estates here.[1]
Co. DublinThe county in which Eustace was principally found in 1890.[2]

Notable people named Eustace

James Eustace, 3rd Viscount Baltinglassd. 1583 (supposed)Complained to Elizabeth of the imposition of a cess, 1576; led the 1580 rising, defeating Lord Grey at Glenmalure; later fled to Spain.[8][1]
Sir Maurice Eustacec.1590–1665Lord Chancellor of Ireland from 1660; earlier Speaker of the Irish House of Commons, 1639.[9]
John Chetwode Eustacec.1765–1815Clergyman and travel writer; his 1813 'Classical Tour through Italy' ran to six editions.[10]

Other spellings

Eustice · Ustace[3]

The Eustace coat of arms

The design shown is a coat of arms associated with the Eustace surname. In Irish and British heraldry a coat of arms is granted to one person and passes to their heirs; it does not belong to everyone who shares the surname. Many families still use the arms of their name as a symbol of their heritage.

Eustace crest gifts

Clan Eustace Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapYY75 Classic Cap - Eustace Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Eustace Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap£33.00Clan Eustace Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap OS10 Eustace Coat Of Arms Irish Cap Eustace Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap£26.00

Eustace surname: questions

Is Eustace an Irish name?

Woulfe says it is Anglo-Norman: Iústás, 'son of Eustace', a name introduced into England by the Normans. The Eustaces came to Ireland at the Anglo-Norman invasion and became one of the leading families of the Pale.[1]

Where in Ireland is the Eustace family from?

Woulfe: they obtained large estates in Kildare and Carlow. Matheson's 1890 survey found only 9 Eustace entries nationwide, principally in Dublin.[1][2]

What happened to the Eustace family after 1580?

Woulfe: after Viscount Baltinglas's rising failed he fled to Spain; his estates and those of his followers were confiscated and many followers were put to death; 17th-century confiscations and attainders 'completed the ruin of the family'.[1]

Who was Sir Maurice Eustace?

Lord Chancellor of Ireland from 1660, and earlier Speaker of the Irish House of Commons in 1639.[9]

Sources

  1. Iústás — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/i/iustas.php
  2. Eustace — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/eustace.php
  3. Eustace — Varieties and Synonymes of Surnames and Christian Names in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1901), transcribed, list 565, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/varieties/list/565.php
  4. Annals of the Four Masters (trans. John O'Donovan), 1452 (part 8) — CELT edition, CELT, University College Cork. celt.ucc.ie/published/T100005D/text008.html
  5. Annals of the Four Masters (trans. John O'Donovan), 1454 (part 9) — CELT edition, CELT, University College Cork. celt.ucc.ie/published/T100005D/text009.html
  6. Annals of the Four Masters (trans. John O'Donovan), 1486 (part 12) — CELT edition, CELT, University College Cork. celt.ucc.ie/published/T100005D/text012.html
  7. Annals of the Four Masters (trans. John O'Donovan), 1580 (part 8) — CELT edition, CELT, University College Cork. celt.ucc.ie/published/T100005E/text008.html
  8. Eustace, James, 3rd Viscount Baltinglass — A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/JamesEustace3rdViscountBaltinglass.php
  9. Eustace, Sir Maurice — A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/SirMauriceEustace.php
  10. Eustace, John Chetwode — A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/JohnChetwodeEustace.php

Note: Matheson's 1890 figures for a surname include its spelling varieties (Matheson, Table Explanation).