Katon History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The roots of the Anglo-Saxon name Katon come from when the family resided in Norfolk. However, there are numerous other places named Catton including: a chapelry in the parish of Croxall, Derbyshire; a parish in East Riding Yorkshire; a township in the parish of Topcliffe, North Riding of Yorkshire; and Caton, a chapelry in the parish of Lancaster. 1

One source notes that the family may have been anciently Norman in origin: "Herebert Katune, of Normandy, 1198 (Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae). This may mean the English family of De Catton, which it shows to have been Norman." 2

Early Origins of the Katon family

The surname Katon was first found in Norfolk "from time immemorial till the middle of the last century. Until the close of the XVI. cent., Catton and De Catton; from the manor of Catton near Norwich, which in Domesday is spelt Catun and Catuna. The Latinizations Catonus, Gathonus, and Chattodunus occur in old records." 3

"The Catons of Essex are probably a branch of the ancient family of Caton or Catton of Norfolk." 4

Researchers scanning through early rolls discovered the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed Robert de Catton, or Cattune: Norfolk, 1273; and John Caton, Huntingdonshire. The Lay Subsidy Rolls listed John de Caton, of Lancaster, Lancashire. And the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Johannes de Catton; and Willelmus de Caytton. 1

Walter Catton or Chattodunus (d. 1343), was "a Franciscan friar of Norwich, was, according to some authorities, head of the Minorite convent situated between the churches of St. Cuthbert and St. Vedast. He seems to have been an author of some repute in his generation, and was, according to Bale, a great student of Aristotle. Towards the close of his life he was summoned to Avignon by the Pope, and died a penitentiary in that city in 1343. " 5

Early History of the Katon family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Katon research. Another 95 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1636, 1652 and 1665 are included under the topic Early Katon History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Katon Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Katon has been recorded under many different variations, including Caton, Catton, Cattan, Catten, Caten and others.

Early Notables of the Katon family

Distinguished members of the family include William Caton (1636-1665), an early English Quaker itinerant preacher and writer. He "was probably a near relation of Margaret Askew, afterwards wife of Thomas Fell, vice-chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster. At the age of fourteen he was taken by his father to the judge's house at Swarthmore...
Another 53 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Katon Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Katon migration to the United States +

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Katon or a variant listed above:

Katon Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

James Katon, who landed in Virginia in 1652 6

Katon Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

John Katon, aged 45, who arrived at Ellis Island, New York aboard the ship "Memphis" in 1842 7
Bryan Katon, aged 25, who arrived in Missouri in 1846 6
Edwd Katon, aged 20, who arrived at Ellis Island, New York aboard the ship "Ambassador" in 1849 7
Mary Katon, aged 14, who arrived at Ellis Island, New York aboard the ship "Columbia" in 1855 7
Cath Katon, aged 16, who arrived at Ellis Island, New York aboard the ship "Columbia" in 1855 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Katon migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Katon Settlers in Australia in the 20th Century

Mr. E. Katon, aged 53, Scottish settler who arrived in Fremantle, Australia aboard the ship "Arcadia" in 1962 8
Mrs. M. Katon, aged 44, Greek settler who arrived in Fremantle, Australia aboard the ship "Arcadia" in 1962 8

Contemporary Notables of the name Katon (post 1700) +

Rosanne Katon (b. 1954), American model, actress, comedian and activist, Playboy Playmate of the Month for its September 1978 issue
Jordan Katon, American producer, known for Millions: A Lottery Story (2006), Sonic Cinema (2000) and 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock (2000)
Mia Katon, American producer, known for The Magic School Bus (1994)
Michael Katon (b. 1953), American blues-rock guitarist and vocalist from Ypsilanti, Michigan
Kevin Katon, Australian actor, known for Aussie Park Boyz: The Next Chapter (2011)
Katon Dawson, American Republican politician, South Carolina Republican State Chair, 2002-08 9

The Katon Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Cautes metuit fovean lupus
Motto Translation: The cautious wolf fears the snare.

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Ellis Island Search retrieved 9th February 2023. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
National Archives of Australia Retrieved 9th February 2023. Retrieved from https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ListingReports/PassengerListing.aspx
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 27) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html