[1][2] The Washington family are descended from Crínán "the Thane" of Dunkeld (†1045), lay abbot and son-in-law of Malcolm II of Scotland.

According to post-Conquest noble custom, his family adopted the name of the estate as an Anglo-Norman surname, "de Wessyington", which later became "Washington".

[11] On this site were relics of Saint Cuthbert, transferred to Durham from its shrine at Lindisfarne, as a saint invoked in combat against the Scots (compare Kirkcudbrightshire), and a symbol of the importance, privileges, and feudal obligations of the illustrious Bishop of Durham and his vassals, including the Washingtons.

[1][14] The Washington family supported the Royalists during the English Civil War and were dispossessed of their lands following their defeat.

[16][17] He was a planter, soldier, and politician in colonial Virginia in North America and a lieutenant colonel in the local militia.

[20] The family, especially Lawrence Washington, rose to great economic prominence, especially in regard to real estate, owning several plantations, mostly for tobacco cultivation.

[22] Lawrence died at age 38 in February 1698 at Warner Hall, Gloucester County, Colony of Virginia, in the same year his daughter was born.

Augustine married twice; his second marriage in 1730 to Mary Ball produced the following six children: George (eldest and first president of the United States), Elizabeth "Betty", Samuel, John, Charles and Mildred Washington.

Around 1734, Augustine brought his second wife Mary and children to the plantation called Little Hunting Creek when George was about two years old.

He became an American political leader, military general and Founding Father who served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797.