Austens

Austens is a surname in the English-speaking world, most often encountered today as the plural form of the surname Austen or as an archaic or dialectical variant. In genealogical and historical records, “the Austens” would be used to refer to members of the Austen family.

Origin and spelling: The name Austen derives from the medieval given name Augustine, from Latin Augustinus, via Old French. Surnames formed from given names by adding -s were common in England, producing variants such as Austen and Austens. The spelling “Austens” is less common than “Austen” and may occur in documents to denote more than one member of the family, or as a regional spelling variant.

Geographic and historical distribution: The surname Austen appears in England from the 12th–14th centuries and spread to other English-speaking countries through migration. The form Austens is found in older records and can appear in parish registers and legal documents.

Notable associations: The family name Austen is best known because of Jane Austen, the English author of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The form Austens is not widely associated with a single famous individual, but may appear in genealogical contexts referencing the Austen family.

In summary, Austens primarily serves as a historical or genealogical form linked to the broader Austen surname, used to refer to multiple members of that family or as a regional spelling variant in older records.