Austin is a Sept of the Keith Clan. Chief of the Name and Arms of Keith is James William Falconer Keith, 14th Earl of Kintore. The Austins were supporters of the Keiths and so close would their association appear to be that both wear the same tartan which, in some early tartan collections, is called “Keith and Austin”. In a legal action raised against George Keith, Earl Marshal in 1587, Alexander Austin became a cautioner for him. This may be Alexander Austin who was Scottish Member of Parliament for Edinburgh in the same year. There has been considerable variation in the spelling of the name and earliest forms, including Oisteane, Oustene, Owystyn and Ousteane, may be derived from the Gaelic name Uisdean.
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