Datons History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

Datons is one of the many names that the Normans brought with them when they conquered England in 1066. The Datons family lived in the North Riding of Yorkshire. They descended from the distinguished Norman family of Picot d'Auton, and it is from that local name, which means from Auton, that the surname derives. 1

Early Origins of the Datons family

The surname Datons was first found in Yorkshire. There are three parishes named Deighton in Yorkshire: the chapelry in the North Riding; the township in the East Riding; and the parish named Kirk Deighton in the West Riding. 2

All have the same meaning: "farmstead surrounded by a ditch," from the Old English "dic" + "tun." 3

All date back to the Domesday Book of 1086 but with very different spellings in use at that time: Dictune (North Riding); Distone (near York); and Distone (Kirk Deighton.) 4

The Dictune spelling had an impact on early rolls, Thomas and Henry de Dicton were found in the Assize Rolls of Yorkshire in 1204 and later in 1259. Richard de Dyghton was listed in the Feet of Fines for Yorkshire in 1327. 5

Some of the family were found in Scotland where the name as "local, probably from Dighton or Deighton in the North Riding of Yorkshire. John de Dychton, subdeacon of Urquhart, 1343." 6

Early History of the Datons family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Datons research. Another 172 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1340 and 1419 are included under the topic Early Datons History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Datons Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names tend to be marked by an enormous number of spelling variations. This is largely due to the fact that Old and Middle English lacked any spelling rules when Norman French was introduced in the 11th century. The languages of the English courts at that time were French and Latin. These various languages mixed quite freely in the evolving social milieu. The final element of this mix is that medieval scribes spelled words according to their sounds rather than any definite rules, so a name was often spelled in as many different ways as the number of documents it appeared in. The name was spelled Daton, Dayton, Deighton, Dauton and others.

Early Notables of the Datons family

More information is included under the topic Early Datons Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Datons family to Ireland

Some of the Datons family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Datons family

Because of the political and religious discontent in England, families began to migrate abroad in enormous numbers. Faced with persecution and starvation at home, the open frontiers and generally less oppressive social environment of the New World seemed tantalizing indeed to many English people. The trip was difficult, and not all made it unscathed, but many of those who did get to Canada and the United States made important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers with Datons name or one of its variants: Ralph Dayton who settled in New Haven Conn. in 1630; Mary Dayton arrived in Virginia in 1648; B. and W.B. Dayton arrived in San Francisco Cal. in 1852.

Citations +

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)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)