Kingston
Language: English
Part of speech: name
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈkɪŋ.stən/
rhymes: -ɪŋstən
Etymology: In the case of settlements outside England, from king's + -ton (“town”), in reference to monarchs of the British Empire. In the case of settlements within England, a development from earlier Old English Cinges tūn or Cynges tūn (“king's town or manor”), in reference to various monarchs. Sometimes derived from other places already named Kingston or, particularly in America, from people with the surname King. Doublet of Kingstown, Kingstone, Conington, and Cunnington. Cf. also Kingsville, Kingsburg, Conisbrough, Coniston, Coniston Cold, Queenstown, Queenston, Princeton, Princetown, and Princes Town.
In particular, the community founded in New Brunswick in 1783 in the aftermath of the American Revolution may have been named as a sign of loyalty to George III; its parish was named for the community. The village in Nova Scotia was named for its district (Kings County) and the unrealized hope that it would become a town. The surname is derived from the various locations named Kingston.
Senses: examples: text: Waking up each day in the sweltering heat of Kingston, hundreds of miles away from his friends and family, “it takes me a while to get a grip on reality,” Thomas said.
ref: 2025 July 8, Zoe Sottile, “He was born to a US citizen soldier on an army base in Germany. Now he’s been deported to Jamaica, a country he’d never been to”, in CNN, archived from the original on 10 Jul 2025:
glosses: The capital and largest city of Jamaica; it is also the capital of its eponymous parish.
glosses: A parish of Jamaica; named for the city which it comprises the inner part of.
glosses: Places in Australia:
A suburb of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory.
glosses: Places in Australia:
The capital of Norfolk Island.
glosses: Places in Australia:
A suburb of Logan, Queensland.
glosses: Places in Australia:
The former name of a town in South Australia, now Kingston SE.
glosses: Places in Australia:
A town and suburb in Kingborough council area, near Hobart, Tasmania.
glosses: Places in Australia:
A small town in the Shire of Hepburn, Victoria.
glosses: Places in Australia:
A local government area in south-east Melbourne, Victoria; in full, the City of Kingston.
glosses: Places in Canada:
A civil parish of Kings County, New Brunswick, Canada.
glosses: Places in Canada:
A community in Kings County, New Brunswick.
glosses: Places in Canada:
An unincorporated community in Division No. 1, Subdivision G, Newfoundland and Labrador.
examples: (historical)
glosses: Places in Canada:
A village in Nova Scotia.
synonyms: Kingston Station
glosses: Places in Canada:
A city in Frontenac County, Ontario.
glosses: Places in Canada:
A community and rural municipality of Queens County, Prince Edward Island, Canada.
glosses: Places in England:
A district in Kents Hill, Monkston and Brinklow parish, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire (OS grid ref SP9038).
glosses: Places in England:
A small village and civil parish in South Cambridgeshire district, Cambridgeshire (OS grid ref TL3455).
glosses: Places in England:
A civil parish and small village in South Hams district, Devon (OS grid ref SX6347).
glosses: Places in England:
A hamlet in Hazelbury Bryan parish, Dorset, previously in North Dorset district (OS grid ref ST7509).
glosses: Places in England:
A small village in Corfe Castle parish, on the Isle of Purbeck, Dorset (OS grid ref SY9579).
glosses: Places in England:
A town in the borough of Kingston upon Thames, Greater London, formally Kingston upon Thames.
glosses: Places in England:
A residential area of Portsmouth, Hampshire (OS grid ref SU6501).
glosses: Places in England:
A small settlement in Shorwell parish, Isle of Wight (OS grid ref SZ4781).
glosses: Places in England:
A village and civil parish in Canterbury district, Kent (OS grid ref TR1951).
glosses: Places in Scotland:
A hamlet in East Lothian council area (OS grid ref NT5482).
glosses: Places in Scotland:
An inner city area of Glasgow (OS grid ref NS5864).
glosses: Places in Scotland:
A coastal village in Moray council area (OS grid ref NJ3365).
glosses: Places in New Zealand:
A small town at the south end of Lake Wakatipu, Otago in the South Island, New Zealand.
glosses: Places in New Zealand:
A suburb of Wellington, Wellington region, New Zealand.
glosses: Places in the United States:
An unincorporated community in Autauga County, Alabama.
glosses: Places in the United States:
An unincorporated community in Madison County, Alabama.
glosses: Places in the United States:
A ghost town in Kings County, California, formerly in Fresno County.
glosses: Places in the United States:
A small city in Bartow County, Georgia.
glosses: Places in the United States:
An unincorporated community in Shoshone County, Idaho.
glosses: Places in the United States:
A village in DeKalb County, Illinois.
glosses: Places in the United States:
An unincorporated community in Adams County, Illinois.
glosses: Places in the United States:
An unincorporated community in Decatur County, Indiana.
glosses: Places in the United States:
An unincorporated community in Des Moines County, Iowa.
glosses: Places in the United States:
An unincorporated community in DeSoto Parish, Louisiana.
glosses: Places in the United States:
An unincorporated community in Somerset County, Maryland.
glosses: Places in the United States:
A small city, the county seat of Caldwell County, Missouri.
glosses: Places in the United States:
A coastal town and census-designated place in Plymouth County, Massachusetts.
glosses: Places in the United States:
A village in Tuscola County, Michigan.
glosses: Places in the United States:
An unincorporated town and census-designated place in Lander County, Nevada.
glosses: Places in the United States:
A town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire.
glosses: Places in the United States:
An unincorporated community and census-designated place in Middlesex County and Franklin County, New Jersey.
glosses: Places in the United States:
A census-designated place in Sierra County, New Mexico.
glosses: Places in the United States:
A city, the county seat of Ulster County, New York.
glosses: Places in the United States:
A town in Ulster County, New York, north of the city.
glosses: Places in the United States:
A village in Ross County, Ohio.
glosses: Places in the United States:
A town in Marshall County, Oklahoma.
glosses: Places in the United States:
An unincorporated community in Linn County, Oregon.
glosses: Places in the United States:
A borough of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.
glosses: Places in the United States:
A village and census-designated place in South Kingstown, Washington County, Rhode Island.
glosses: Places in the United States:
A city, the county seat of Roane County, Tennessee.
glosses: Places in the United States:
A town in Piute County, Utah.
glosses: Places in the United States:
An unincorporated community and census-designated place in Kitsap County, Washington.
glosses: Places in the United States:
A town in Green Lake County, Wisconsin.
glosses: Places in the United States:
A town in Juneau County, Wisconsin.
glosses: Places in the United States:
A number of townships in the United States, listed under Kingston Township.
glosses: A surname.
Derived terms: Chesterton and Kingston
Collingbourne Kingston
Kingston Blount
Kingston by Sea
Kingston near Lewes
Kingston on Soar
Kingston Park
Kingston's metal
Kingston St Mary
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Thames
Kingston valve