Welcome!!
I started this journey of researching the Istance family with the encouragement of my husband Dave; well, it was his grandmother whose maiden name was Istance. According to the 1881 Census only 20 people had the surname Istance and all lived in South Wales. This will be easy I thought; little did I know. I was forgetting that enumerators of the census and parish recorders wrote down names phonetically and have now found, through research, the surnames Instant, Instance, Istence, and Estance.
When starting this research, I was unaware that I was following in the footsteps of Jean Istance, who had already done a huge amount of work looking into the surname, family, and origins and was lucky enough to be given a copy of her research, thoughts, and ideas. I am slowly working my way through her pages, cross-checking with information I have already uncovered. I would like to say a big thank you to Jean for her hard work, which is helping me to continue the journey and hopefully by building this website though the Guild of One Name Studies, her work and mine will be preserved by the Guild.
I hope, whoever takes the time to look around this website, finds it interesting and helpful. I have also taken the time to privatise any living people who might have been included on this site. If you find any possible errors, or know of any additional information, please contact me, Joan Chopping, by going to the 'Info' tab, top right of the website, scroll down and click on 'Contact Us'. Also, if you wish a copy of either photographs, please don't copy from the website, just get in touch and I will email you a copy.
By the way, through correspondence I have been told that the Welsh for 'staunch' is 'YSTANS', but over the years the surname has been Anglicised. I am also informed that because 'ISTANCE' is a rare surname it is also probable that all the 'Istances' in Pembrokeshire are related.
NEW!! We have a FaceBook Group called Istance Families (One Name Study) Group. Interested in the surname?? Come and join us.
NEW!! There is an Istance Newsletter. If you would like to be added to the mailing list please contact me, Joan Chopping, by going to the 'Info' tab, top right of the website, scroll down and click on 'Contact Us'
Website Updated 07 Jul 2023
Elizabeth Istance 1811-1883
Wife of William Istance (opposite) and mother to David Silas Istance, 1852 - 1929