Contents [hide]

Stratton History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Suggested Reading Citations

Stratton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Stratton reached England in the great wave of migration following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Stratton family lived in Wiltshire, at Stratton. However, there are also parishes in Cornwall, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Norfolk, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, and Somerset also named Stratton.

The reason for the many parishes so named is because of the etymology of the surname as in "one who came from Stratton (homestead on a Roman road.)" 1 However down in Cornwall, in Cornish the name literally means "the hill full of fresh springs." 2

Early Origins of the Stratton family

The surname Stratton was first found in Wiltshire where it is said that the notorious Adam de Stratton derives from Argouges from Manche in the arrondisement of Avranches in Normandy.

Adam de Stratton (died 1292) was a royal moneylender, administrator and clergyman under Edward I of England. He rose to become Chamberlain of the Exchequer and steward of Isabella, Countess of Devon. His father was Thomas de Argoges, or Arwillis, of Stratton St Margaret in Wiltshire. In 1278, he was accused of cutting off the seal of a charter from Quarr Abbey, thereby invalidating its authenticity. This was not the beginning nor the last time he would be associated with dubious activities. On 17 January 1290, he was relieved of his office of chamberlain, along with his temporal possessions. Upon his arrest, he was discovered to have in his possession a vast sum of money and objects associated with witchcraft. He was imprisoned in the Tower of London in 1292 and died by 14 August 1294.

Henry de Stratton (died after 1277) was an English clergyman and Crown official who later served as a judge in Ireland. He is chiefly remembered as the brother of the infamous Adam de Stratton.

Stratton is a parish in Cornwall in the deanery of Trigg-Major, and in the hundred to which this parish imparts its name. "This circumstance denotes its great antiquity, and discovers that in former ages it presented no contemptible figure on the rolls of fame." 3

Robert de Stretton (died 1385), an English divine, born at Stretton Magna, Leicestershire was Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield and son of Robert Eyryk or de Stretton. "He and his elder brother, Sir William Eyryk, knight (ancestor of the Heyricks of Leicestershire), derived their surnames from Stretton Magna. " 4

Early History of the Stratton family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Stratton research. Another 175 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1285, 1320 and 1364 are included under the topic Early Stratton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Stratton Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Stratton include Stratton, Straton, Straiton and others.

Early Notables of the Stratton family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Alexander Stratton

Stratton Ranking

In the United States, the name Stratton is the 1,525^th most popular surname with an estimated 19,896 people with that name. 5 However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Stratton is ranked the 435^th most popular surname with an estimated 107 people with that name. 6

Stratton migration to the United States +

In England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Strattons to arrive on North American shores:

Stratton Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Joseph Stratton, who settled in Maine in 1623
Samuel Stratton, who landed in Watertown, Massachusetts in 1633 7
Henry Stratton, who arrived in Virginia in 1641 7
Sisley Stratton, who landed in Virginia in 1646 7
Sarah Stratton, who arrived in Virginia in 1649 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Stratton Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Thomas Stratton, who arrived in Virginia in 1701 7
Benja Stratton, who arrived in Virginia in 1703 7
Joyce Stratton, who landed in Virginia in 1705 7

Stratton Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Joseph Stratton, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1829 7
James Stratton, aged 4, who landed in New York, NY in 1834 7
J C Stratton, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1850 7
C Stratton, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 7
David Stratton, who arrived in Mississippi in 1874 7

Stratton migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Stratton Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

John Stratton, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
John Stratton, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
Samuel Stratton, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
Francis Stratton, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
James Stratton, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750

Stratton Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Mary Ann Stratton from Yorkshire settled in Greenspond, Newfoundland before 1856 8

Stratton migration to Australia +

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

Stratton Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Ms. Mary Stratton, Cornish settler convicted in Cornwall, UK on 6th August 1804, sentenced for 7 years, transported aboard the ship "William Pitt" on 10th August 1805 to New South Wales, Australia 9
John Stratton, English convict from Bedford, who was transported aboard the "Albion" on May 29, 1828, settling in New South Wales, Australia 10
Rosinna E. Stratton, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Susannah" in 1849 11

Stratton migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Stratton Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

George Stratton, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
Thomas Stratton, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1841 aboard the ship Lady Nugent
Thomas Stratton, aged 45, a labourer, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Lady Nugent" in 1841
Elizabeth Stratton, aged 35, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Lady Nugent" in 1841
George Stratton, aged 15, a labourer, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Lady Nugent" in 1841
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Stratton migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 12

Stratton Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Thomas Stratton and his wife Mary settled in Barbados in 1679

Contemporary Notables of the name Stratton (post 1700) +

Lois J. Stratton (1927-2020), American politician in the state of Washington
David Michael Stratton (1941-2020), American professional football player who was a linebacker in the American Football League
Bruce Nelson "Dr. Bruce" Stratton (d. 2018), American broadcaster, Station Manager of Corpus Christi's KFTX "Real Country" radio
Harold Meade "Harry" Stratton (1879-1962), American engineer and businessman, co-founder and chairman of the Briggs & Stratton engine manufacturers
Dorothy Constance Stratton (1899-2006), American director of the SPARS, the United States Coast Guard Women's Reserve during World War II, eponym of the USCGC Stratton (WMSL-752)
Solomon Stratton (1745-1818), American soldier and explorer
Winfield Scott "W.C." Stratton (1848-1902), American prospector and philanthropist, he discovered the Independence Lode near Victor, Colorado
Samuel Somerville Stratton (1898-1969), American academic, 11th President of Middlebury College (1943-1963)
Richard A. Stratton (b. 1958), American educator, President of Clearwater Christian College in 2002
Felton Stratton (1895-1974), American baseball infielder in the Negro Leagues, active 1920 through 1933
... (Another 54 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Stratton family +

Empress of Ireland

Mrs. Lucilla Stratton (d. 1914), née Kennerley British Stewardess from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 13

Halifax Explosion

Master Willie Stratton (1912-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 14
Mrs. Winifred Stratton (1882-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 14
Mr. James William Stratton (1883-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 14
Master Vincie Stratton (1914-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 14
Master Alfred Stratton (1905-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 14
... (Another 1 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

USS Arizona

Mr. Donald G. Stratton, American Seaman First Class working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he survived the sinking 15
Mr. John Raymond Stratton, American Seaman First Class from Indiana, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 15

The Stratton 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: Resurgere tento
Motto Translation: I strive to rise again.

Citations +

Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
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)
Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 30th May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_convicts.pdf
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 24) Albion voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1828 with 192 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/albion/1828
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) SUSANNAH 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Susannah.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html