The Ostle Family History Net - Welcome

Welcome!

The Ostles are an old Quaker farming family originating from the area around Silloth and Abbeytown in North Cumbria, England. Today Ostles are living in all parts of the United Kingdom, and in Germany, Canada, the U.S.A. and Australia. We are very pleased to meet you.

Just click on any of the images in this box to go to the page with the full story,

or use the menu,

or just scroll down for a quick introduction to the family

Our Name. . .
. . . has been spelt Ostell, Ostel and Ostle. According to the Oxford Dictionary of Surnames, it probably derives from the same root as hostel, hotel and hospital and may mean someone who offers hospitality. However, a tradition in some branches of the family suggests there may be a link to the small town of Osteel in Lower Saxony, now part of Germany but formally in The Netherlands.

Our Homelands. . .


. . . lie in the extreme north-west corner of England in the old county of Cumberland, now part of Cumbria, not far from the Scottish border.

Click on the map to go to a more detailed one of the area within the box

To learn much more about our homelands click below to visit the Holme St. Cuthbert History Group's Website

Our Story. . .
. . . begins in the time of King Henry VIII and continues through the 17th and 18th centuries when the family became Quakers and were severely presecuted for their beliefs. By Victorian times the family had spread far and wide -- while many farmed the land, others' jobs ranged from railway navvy to railway director!

Click on the old book for a quick, illustrated version or for the full details use the Family History option on the menu. NETSCAPE users click here

Contact me. . .

. . .Peter Ostle in Carlisle. I'm always happy to hear from visitors to the site especially if you have a connection to the family.

Click here to drop me an email right now

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