Boughten Surname History

Origins Available:
England

In ancient Anglo-Saxon England, the ancestors of the Boughten surname lived in one of many places called Boughton throughout England. Settlements named Boughton were found in Huntingdonshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, and Northamptonshire. Great Boughton is found in Cheshire, and Kent was home to settlements called Boughton Aluph, Boughton Malherbe, Boughton Monchelsea, and Boughton under Blean.

Early Origins of the Boughten family

The surname Boughten was first found in Warwickshire, where this "family of good antiquity, traced to Robert de Boreton, grandfather of William, who lived in the reign of Edward III. " 1

"Downton Hall [in Downton, Shropshire], the seat of Sir William Rouse Boughton, Bart., to whom the whole property belongs, is a handsome mansion, approached by a beautiful avenue two miles in length, on a gradual ascent, from which the scenery is extensive, romantic, and mountainous, embracing the Titterstone and the Clee hills." 2

One of the earliest records of the family was Joan Boughton (d. 1494), the English martyr, who "was an old widow of eighty years or more, who held certain of Wycliffe's opinions. She was said to be the mother of a lady named Young, who was suspected of the like doctrines. She was burnt at Smithfield 28 April 1494. " 3

Early History of the Boughten family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Boughten research. Another 204 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1600, 1628, 1632, 1656, 1663, 1680, 1683, 1689, 1716, 1722, 1747, 1760, 1780, 1791, 1794, 1821, 1893 and 1963 are included under the topic Early Boughten History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Boughten Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Boughten are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Boughten include: Boughton, Bourton, Borton, Boughten, Bourten, Borten, Bouton, Broughton, Portan and many more.

Early Notables of the Boughten family

Notables of the family at this time include Sir William Boughton, 1st Baronet (1600-1656) of Lawford in the County of Warwick; Sir Edward Boughton, 2nd Baronet (1628-1680); Sir William Boughton, 3rd...
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Boughten Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Boughten family

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Boughten or a variant listed above: Thomas Boughton who settled in Virginia in 1639; James Boughton arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1852; D. Boughton arrived in San Francisco Cal. in 1851..

Citations +

Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print