My father has the Eastcott surname as of one of his middle names as most likely in a bid to keep the Eastcott name going as I believe there are not many Eastcotts' left now and the name is at risk of dying out.   My paternal great grandmother was an Eastcott from Devon.  

Having conducted family trees on variety of surnames in my own personal family names - the Eastcott name was rare and easy to follow and I was intrigued about the name itself.  So I decided to collate a tree and before I knew it I was collecting lots of information pertaining to the Eastcott name, hence I subsequently joined the Guild of One Name Studies and have been a member since 2003.

From the big main tree (dating back to 13oo) I have found some Eastcotts emigrated to Australia, America, New Zealand and Canada and I have built up these trees going down or forwards (descendants) rather than the usual route of going up or backwards (ascendants).  I have obtained a variety of sources including the census, BMD certificates and church records, immigration and passenger lists, apprenticeship lists.

The surname has been variously spelt either as a variant or misspelling.  My main study name is EASTCOTT.  I am also searching for variants or misspellings of Eastcote, Eascott, Eastcoate, Estcote, Estcott.  If I found surnames with just one 't' on the end of the surname - for example Estcot it will be put down as Estcott and Eastcot will be put down as Eastcott with a message in the notes to that effect.

Estcott changed to Eastcott as time went on.   I can only make the assumption that this could be due to incorrect spelling of the correct name - as the name Eastcott - the East part was not pronounced when spoken as east but as est and when people were able to read and write as time went on they were able to correct the name to be spelt properly from Estcott to Eastcott and is the name that is used today.

The name has probably been misspelled to Estcote; Eastcote - as well as going from Est to East in first part of the name there were times therefore going from cott to cote in the second part of the name.  I have also found EASCOTT too with the letter 't' missing after Eas.   I have found these Eascotts to have come from line of Eastcott's.   Some of these EASCOTT's then went on to have further misspelling or changed as ESCOTT who then appeared to have left Devon/Cornwall and settled in Somerset or Wiltshire.

There is a one name study of Escott within the Guild by another Guild Member so please feel free to have a look at this One Name Study.

The earliest references quoted are from research conducted by Genealogical Searchers: Messrs, Mawson, Swan and Morgan Ltd of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne which was instigated by Harry Eastcott, born 1851, the son of Richard and Charity Eastcott (nee Palmer), for the company to research and publish an outline of the Eastcott pedigree and this is possibly where the Printed Eastcott Booklet that is cited in this tree had come from and which is in my possession.  Harry Eastcott also appears in Burke’s “The Landed Gentry” dated 1921-22 and the 1937 edition and it is thus possible that the entry of Eastcott in the Burke’s Landed Gentry derived from the Eastcott Booklet edited and printed by the above research company. 

The Genealogical Searchers have proved that the family of Eastcott is of great antiquity in the West of England, and have traced a definite and continuous line back to the year 1202.  However, further search along the way has taken it back another 100 years to the year 1100. 

The Eastcott family originates from Cornwall and Devon.  In this area there are 4 hamlets called Eastcott within a short distance of each other.  Eastcott 4 miles south east; 8 miles east; 6 miles north and 18 miles north west of Launceston, Cornwall.   These hamlets were called Estcott and that it is most likely that the Estcott/Eastcott families took their name. 

In the ‘Dictionary of English/Welsh Surnames’ the name Eastcott is a tithing in the parish of Urchfont, co. Wilts and local people used this name – for example: Richard de Estcott, co Wilts 1272.  The prefix ‘de’ to a surname means ‘of’.  Thus, Stephen de Estcott means Stephen of Estcott.  The prefix continued to be used until about 1350, when Stephen still at Estcott, Cornwall, dropped the prefix to become just Stephen Estcott.  Estcott name continued to be used for the next three centuries without the prefix.  However, the surname Estcott was beginning to change. John Estcott of Launceston, Cornwall and his son Thomas of Broadwoodwidger interchangeably used Estcott and Eastcott.  From the birth of Thomas’s son John in 1677 the surname became Eastcott to which is predominantly used today.

My family have a booklet about the Eastcotts and the following is from that booklet:

The family of Estcott, or Eastcott, is of great antiquity in the West of England, and it probably took its name either from Estcott in the parish of North Tamerton, or from Estcott in Morwenstow, both in Cornwall.

In 3^rd John, 24 No. (Pedes fin’) circa 1202, Osbert De Estcott is thus mentioned: “Walt de Nasoi qu’Osbert de estcott, def’ in Estcott”.

Lysons in his ‘Devonshire’ writes, “Estcott, the heiress of the elder-branch of this ancient family whose pedigree is traced one generation beyond the reign of King Stephen (1135-1154) married Pentier, a younger-branch which was of Tamerton, in the reign of Edward III, married an heiress of Manning, and co-heiress of Tolworth and Prust” (Vol. iii. p.c iii).

Westcote also writes that the Estcott family anciently held lands in Harberton (Westcote’s ‘Devon’ p. 149).  The family appears to have held lands in other parts of Cornwall, as in 1425, the Bishop of Exeter’s Licence was granted to Robert Estcott for the celebration of Divine Service in the Chapel of St. Wenne, and in other Chapels and Oratories within his manor of Pengywe? (‘Trigg  Minor’ Vol.2, p. 113).

On 9^th June 1408, a Reginald Estcote was ordained, and on 12^th June, 1400, was John Estecote and apparently appointed to Berbirch Priory, on 14^th September he received letters dimissory. (Bishop’s Stafford’s Reg’, 1395-1419).

A family of the same name held lands in Wiltshire, and possibly may have been a younger branch settled there, Hugh de Estcote and Joan, his wife, are mentioned in 1299 (Cal’ Genealogicum 579).  In 1301, on 24^th October, Hugh de Estcote was one of the three appointed to collect in Wilts, the 15 though lately granted to the King towards the cost of the expedition into Scotland (Cal’ of Patent rolls).

On 3^rd May, 1333, licence was granted at Belford to Walter De Estcote, to enforce Thomas de Coleshull, and John de Tiryngham of a moiety of the Manor of Westerderle, co. of Southampton, held in chief and for them to re-grant the same to him for life, with remainder to Hugh, his son, in fee tail, and if Hugh die without heirs, to the right heirs of Walter, by fine of ten marks (Cal’ of Patent Rolls, memb 6, page 431).  The above mentioned Hugh appears to have been knighted, as the Issue Roll of 44^th Edward III says, “To Sir Hugh Estcote, Knight, sent to bring ships from London to Southampton for the passage of Robert Knolles to Normandy, in money paid to him for wages, by General Writ of Priory Seal, £6.13.4”.  There are other references to this Sir Hugh in the Issue Rolls.

In 1377, 2^nd August, Pardon was granted to Ralph De Estcote for acquiring for life without the King’s Licence from John de Isle, decd certain parcels of land in Wilts, and in the same year on the 16^th November, licence was granted, on payment of 40 shillings into the hanaper, to William De Estcote for him to enforce, Master Thomas Spert, Clerk, and Hugh Attenere, of a fourth part of the Manor of Westuderley, and a third part of the Manor of O Kelec, and a rent of four quarters of salt in Merchwode, held in chief, and for the forfees to grant the premises to the said William and Elizabeth, his wife, in tail with remainder to the right heirs of the said William (Cal’ of Patent Rolls, memb 27).

In 1349 Robert de Estecote, was Incumbent of Wellow, Co. Somerset (Weaver’s Somerset Incumbent). “Et de dimoidia marca de Wridiet De Estcota pro eodem” (Magnus Rotulus Pipoe, A.D. 1176-1177, Berks).

GENERAL ARMORY OF ENGLAND – Arms – Sa. six escallops (or 3, 2 & 1).  The Crest – a sea gull erect, wings expanded sa.  SEATS – Endsleigh, Gateshead-on-Tyne, and Broadwoodwidger, Devon.

Famous Eastcott People

1. The actress Susan Penhaligan has an Eastcott in her tree.  Many years ago I was contacted by a former Guild member (who was helping her with the Ellery surname) whom wanted my help where the actress Susan Penhaligan had an Eastcott descendant.  This was very interesting to compile the Eastcott tree to where she fitted into it and felt very honoured doing so.
2. The American soprano Lucy Escott (1828-1895) was a prima donna in William Saurin Lyster's Grand Opera Company which performed worldwide.  How did I find her and why the name of ESCOTT and not EASTCOTT?   The story transpired when I obtained the will of Thomas Eastcott (born 1811 in Stowford, Devon) written 1869 and proved 1874.  Thomas cited a nephew Louis Edgar Eastcott in his will, in which I was unable to account for in the main family UK tree.  I obtained Louis Edgar Eastcott’s birth certificate in which he was born 2^nd December 1854 in Antony Farm, Antony, Cornwall, the son of Richard Eastcott, a ‘Professor of Music’ and Lucy Evans Grant of Antony Farm, Antony, Cornwall, the birth was registered on 28 December 1854 in St Germans district, Cornwall.  Once again searched England censuses from 1841-1901 for Louis, Richard and Lucy and found none, there was also no married or death indexes for them.  I made the assumption they must have gone abroad and this started the search for American census and passenger lists.  Richard Eastcott left on the steam ship ‘President’ from the port of London at the age of 21 and arrived at the port of New York on 18^th October 1839.   I then found marriage certificate - Richard Eastcott (age 26, single, Music Teacher, of Springfield, unknown parents) married Lucy E Grant (age 17, single, Music Teacher, of Springfield, mother Florinda Grant, no father’s name put down) on 24^th March 1846 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts (Source: Springfield Marriage Register, Mass Vital Records Online 1841-1910).  Lucy Evans Grant was born 4^th January 1832 at Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, USA and is the daughter of Luther Grant  and Lorinda Williams.   Both Richard and Lucy had surname of EASTCOTT ..........................Ref: In the 1850 USA census (night of 12^th August 1850) Richard Eastcott (age 30, born England, a ‘Musician’) and Lucy Eastcott (age 21 and born Massachusetts, no occupation given) were living at 5^th Ward Providence, county of Providence, state of Rhode Island, USA (no children present).  Also living with them is Lucy’s mother, Lorinda Grant (age 50 and born Massachusetts).  Plus this reference ........................... Brooklyn Eagle Newspaper, Brooklyn, New York, dated 19^th April 1853 states: “An American Prima Donna – The Albany Atlas says that Mrs. Eastcott, an American singer, is attracting much attention in Naples. From a reliable source we have learned something of the history of Mrs. Eastcott. Her maiden name was Lucy Grant, and she was a resident of Springfield, Mass. She acquired a home celebrity as a singer at the Unitarian Church in this city. Not yet sixteen, Miss Grant married Mr. R. Eastcott, a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, London, and an accomplished violinist, who have her musical instruction.  From 1855 she was then known Lucy ESCOTT and not Lucy Eastcott....................... Ref:  Lucy Escott starred as Violetta at the Nuovo Theatre in Naples, Florida on 10^th January 1853 (Source: Rare Creators in the Mercadante Operas).   Lucy travelled far and wide including Australia and New Zealand.  By 1870 census Richard was living on his own and surname now ESCOTT.  Richard Escott died on 19^th August 1880 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts.   Lucy Evans Escott died 26^th November 1895 in Paris, France (Pat from Historic Opera website and Public Submitter LDS website).
3. Are there any more famous Eastcotts?

According to Ancestry.co in 1891 only 57% of Eastcotts' were living in the UK.  36% in Devon; 12% in Cornwall; 7% in Kent and 2% in Gloucester.  Devon being the highest population of Eastcott families in 1891.

The name EASTCOTT occurs in the following UK census's (which does not include any variants or misspellings).  If were to include misspellings or variants then there be a greater number of them.  I have found some EASCOTTS and have worked on these in their family units and they really are and should have been transcribed or put on official documents as Eastcotts'.

Eastcott Name occurrences in the censuses

1841 x 79

1851 x 94

1861 x 98

1871 x 110

1881 x 113

1891 x 102

1901 x 118

1911 x 148

1921 x 112. 

I have found Eastcotts' in Australia, New Zealand, America and Canada and have found the majority of them all descend from the main England branch of the tree.   According to the website Forebears - https://forebears.io/surnames/uk incidence of the surname EASTCOTT were 109.  However, incidences of the name has occurred in many countries by 2014:

Australia x 229; Canada x 213; England x 69; USA x 50; New Zealand x 11; Wales x 8; Scotland x 5; Ghana x 1; India x 1; Malaysia x 1; Mexico x 1 and Pakistan x 1.

Forebears also state that in Australia the name EASTCOTT mainly concentrated in NSW; Western Australia and Queensland and that in England the number of people bearing the Eastcott surname fell 37% between 1881 and 2014 and in the USA it rose 833% between 1880 and 2014.

This is an ongoing study and if you have any information that I would find useful please contact me.

The earliest records of Eastcott and its variants are predominantly Cornwall and Devon. 

In the 1891 census highest distribution was Devon with Cornwall coming closest to 2nd, then Kent, then Gloucester.

By the 1921 census the name had spread since them but still highest distribution in the south.  Eastcott name had spread to London, Middlesex, Durham, Suffolk, Hampshire, Oxford, Staffordshire, Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Somerset.  

A search of Births on the BMD indexes from 1921 to 1983 that in addition to the distribution of the name in the 1921 census we now have the Eastcott name spreading further in the UK to Essex, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Cardiff in Wales, Sussex, Lincolnshire, Surrey, Leeds, Birmingham, Bedfordshire and Cheshire

As stated above so far, my research suggests that all the Eastcotts in America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand appear to be descended from the Eastcotts of south-west of England.

I joined the guild in 2003 where for the first 5 years I had gained lots of information and databases of Eastcott families in the UK and have made separate family trees of Eastcott families in the USA, Canada, New Zealand and Australia.    

Now retired I have bit more time and able to concentrate on my study a bit more and upload the  information i currently hold onto the Guild databases for members of the public to view and to decrease my paper work on the Study and to ensure that if I no longer able to do my study it is therefore online and preserved.  

The misspelling of the name as EASCOTT I have been able to find that they all should have the surname Eastcott as their descendants surname were Eastcott.  However, there are a couple of Wiltshire ones (Melksham registration district) that I have not been able to place them into Eastcott family and they may be under the surname of ESCOTT.  This is work in progress.

In fact all work is in progress and am happy to answer any questions you may have or want me to look up anything I have currently - please just ask.  If you have any information to share with me that be most appreciated.

No DNA testing at present

I am the process of setting up a website