Show ContentsEssinton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Essinton family

The surname Essinton was first found in South Staffordshire, at Essington, a village and civil parish that dates back to 996 when it was listed as Esingetun. By the Domesday Book of 1086, the place name had changed to Eseningetone. The Domesday Book lists Eseningetone as part of the Cuttlestone hundred, land held by William fitzAnsculf and comprised 2 hides of land and was large enough for 6 ploughs. Countess Godgifu held the Hundred at that time on behalf of fitzAnsculf. 1 The place name literally means "farmstead or the family or followers of a man called Esne," from the Old English personal name + "inga" + "tun." 2

Early History of the Essinton family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Essinton research. Another 104 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1420, 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Essinton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Essinton Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Essinton family name include Essington, Esington, Easington, Essinton and many more.

Early Notables of the Essinton family

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

Migration of the Essinton family

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, Canada, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Essinton surname or a spelling variation of the name include: settlers, who arrived along the eastern seaboard, from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands.



  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)


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