The Owston and Ouston families are descended from two distinct families that originated in the historical East and North Ridings of Yorkshire, England. For easy identification, these families have been named from the locations of their earliest ancestors.

• The Sherburn Group (including a Scarborough branch and the Ouston families). Earliest record 1567.
• The Thornholme Group. Earliest record circa 1700.

NOTE: living in one of these towns does not indicate descent from that particular group. Descendants of these families can be found in the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Finland. Descendants of the Thornholme group had lived in Japan in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Additionally, a rather large group of living Owston males (approximately 40) that are descended from an illegitimate Owston ancestor, will not share the same Y-DNA as others in the Sherburn group.