The family name Austin is derived from an Old French language contraction of Augustus meaning "majestic". The vernacular form saw Agustin contracted as Aostin or Austin. Other variations of the name include Austen and Auston. The name is seen with frequency in the south east of England.

Current research identifies our line of Austin family can be traced back originates in the Sompting parish in the mid 1600s. The earliest confirmed member of our Austin family is Thomas Austin. His great great grand-daughter Elizabeth Austin marries Samuel Grinyer in 1803. It is their grandson - George William Bashford - who emigrates to Australia around 1865

The Austin ancestry goes back 10 generations and biographies exist for some members as indicated by links below

• John Austin 1660 - ? married Elizabeth Purdy
  • Thomas Austin 1689 - 1733 married Mary ?
    • Thomas Austin 1718 - 1766 married Sarah Baker
      • John Austin 1758 - 1844 married Sarah Tyler
        • Elizabeth Austin 1785 - 1837 married Samuel Grinyer
          • Frances Grinyer 1803 - 1875 married Josias Bashford
            • George William Bashford 1840 - 1893 married Sarah Ann Starkey Fullelove
              • /wiki/spaces/HFHW/pages/2523599 married James Cairns Bain
                • James Bashford Bain married Eva Mary Yates
                  • Doreen Bain married Douglas James Hardie
                    • My father