Welcome to the Istance one-name study.  I have been researching both my husband's and my family tree for over 20 years, but it is only the last six years I have been studying the surname ISTANCE.  I was intrigued by the surname and wondered where it had originated from. Since researching the database has increased to 575 individuals consisting of 170 families. 

Variants has been found in the surname of Instance, Estance, Istence, Instant, Eustance, Hinstance, Instand, and Instone, to name a few, and I think there will be plenty more!! 

The origin of the surname ISTANCE and variants are not yet known but research has shown the surname existed in Pembrokeshire as far back as 1610, and by the 1900's, as travel became easier, stretched from southwest Wales to Northern Ireland, and Belfast, east to Monmouthshire and to the London area, across the River Severn to Somerset, and down to Hampshire. Through various contacts the surname and variants have been found as far away as Australia, USA, Spain, and Germany.

Distribution of the name so far, is mostly in southwest Wales, indeed the 1881 Census shows eight people recorded in Narberth, two in Carmarthen, and one in Llandilofawr, spreading east to Merthyr Tydfil where two people were recorded and four in Newport.  Doing an open search on Ancestry, for UK and Ireland, the surname ISTANCE was recorded 13,802 and 12,119 for the surname INSTANCE. A further open search on Ancestry was made of USA where the surname ISTANCE was found to be recorded as 30,017, and INSTANCE as 90,571.  

Please view the website where more information about the Istance family can be found at Istance - A One Name Study

The website was updated on 17 May 2025.

There is also a Facebook Group - Istance Families (One Name Study) Group.

If you're interested, please get in touch, would love to hear from you.