The surname dates back to the late 13th Century. Variations in the idiom of the 
spelling includeWiskyn, Whisken, Whiskon, Wisking, Wlefstan etc.. Sisley Wiskyn was 
Christened on June 22nd 1576, at St. Botolph, London, England. On August 25th 1640, 
Sarah Whiskin married Launcelot Rowe, at St. Dunstans, Stepney, London, England. 
Thomas and Sarah Whiskin were Christened on February 11th 1658, at St. Giles, 
Cripplegate, London. The first recorded spelling of the name is shown to be that of 
Arnold de Wiston, which was dated 1273, "The Hundred Rolls of Nottinghamshire" , 
during the reign of King Edward 1st. "The Hammer of the Scots", 1272-1307. Surnames 
became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was 
known as "Poll Tax". Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have 
continued to develop, often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

This interesting surname of English origin, is a dialect variant of the locational 
name from places called Whiston. Examples in Lancashire and West Yorkshire are named 
from the Old English pre 7th Century "hwit" meaning "White" plus "Stan" "Stone", 
while one in Staffordshire is from the genitive case of the Old English byname 
Hwit "white" plus "tun" "settlement", "enclosure". Another place name of the same 
name in Northamptonshire was probably names as the settlement associated with Hwicce, 
an Old English personal name from the tribal name Hwicce. Wiston in Sussex is named 
from the Old English Wigstan plus "tun". There is also a place called Wiston in Old 
Barony in Lanarkshire.

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