Show ContentsHorton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The roots of the Anglo-Saxon name Horton come from when the family resided in one of the many places called Horton; settlements of this name are particularly common in Yorkshire. The surname Horton belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

There are two possible origins of the name: "dirty or muddy farmstead," from the Old English "horu" + "tun" and "hill frequented by harts or stags," from the Old English "heorot" + "dun." [1]

Early Origins of the Horton family

The surname Horton was first found in the West Riding of Yorkshire at Thornton, a chapelry, in the parish and union of Bradford, wapentake of Morley. "Thornton Hall, the property of the Horton family, an ancient quadrangular structure of great size, and formerly of considerable importance, is now occupied as farm-buildings and cottages." [2]

Over in Horton, in Northumberland another branch of the family was found. "Possessions were anciently held here by the knightly family of Horton," [2] and at Horton in the West Riding of Yorkshire, more early records of the family were found. "In the reign of Henry II., the manor was granted by Robert de Lacy to the ancestor of the Hortons." [2]

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 had the following entries for the family: Thomas de Horton in Devon; William de Horton in Kent; and Adam de Horton in Cambridgeshire. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed: Emma de Horton; and Dionisia de Horton. [3]

Some of the family were found in Scotland in early times: "Pieres de Hortone of Edinburghshire who rendered homage in 1296 derived his name from one of the many places named Horton in England, perhaps from one of the three places of the name in Yorkshire." [4]

Early History of the Horton family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Horton research. Another 235 words (17 lines of text) covering the years 1210, 1296, 1603, 1649, 1660, 1673, 1696, 1714, 1756, 1764, 1784, 1806, 1821, 1823 and 1841 are included under the topic Early Horton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Horton 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. Horton has been recorded under many different variations, including Horton, Horten and others.

Early Notables of the Horton family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

  • Thomas Horton D.D. (died 1673), an English clergyman, Professor of Divinity at Gresham College in London, and President of Queens' College, Cambridge. [5]
  • Major Thomas Horton (1603-1649) was an English soldier in the parliamentary army during the English Civil War from Gumley, Leicestershire. Horton was granted the confiscated lands of a deposed Royalis...
  • Christiana Horton (c. 1696-c. 1756) was an English actress who first appeared in London as Melinda in The Recruiting Officer in 1714 at Drury Lane. [5]

Horton World Ranking

In the United States, the name Horton is the 278th most popular surname with an estimated 96,993 people with that name. [6] However, in Australia, the name Horton is ranked the 565th most popular surname with an estimated 6,806 people with that name. [7] And in New Zealand, the name Horton is the 755th popular surname with an estimated 964 people with that name. [8] The United Kingdom ranks Horton as 433rd with 14,860 people. [9]


United States Horton 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 Horton or a variant listed above:

Horton Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Miss Horton, who was aboard the ship "Sea Venture" who wrecked in Bermudas in 1609, they managed to build a new ship to continue to Jamestown in 1610. [10]
  • Sarah Horton, who arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1623 [11]
  • Thomas Horton, who landed in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1633 [11]
  • Barnabas Horton, who landed in Massachusetts in 1635 [11]
  • Isaac Horton, who arrived in Virginia in 1636 [11]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Horton Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Richard Horton, who arrived in Virginia in 1701 [11]
  • George Horton, who arrived in Virginia in 1702 [11]
  • Eliz Horton, who arrived in Virginia in 1704 [11]
  • John Horton, who landed in Baltimore, Maryland in 1720 [11]
  • Nathan Horton, who landed in Mississippi in 1798 [11]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Horton Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • James Horton, aged 27, who arrived in New York in 1812 [11]
  • Joseph Horton, who arrived in Buffalo, NY in 1835 [11]
  • Daniel Horton, who arrived in New York, NY in 1838 [11]
  • Mathias Horton, who arrived in New York, NY in 1850 [11]
  • Thomas Horton, who arrived in New York, NY in 1850 [11]

Canada Horton migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Horton Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Jane Horton, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • Isaiah Horton, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1775
  • Esaias Horton, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1783
  • Stoatly Horton, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1783
  • Mr. James Horton U.E. who arrived at Port Roseway [Shelburne], Nova Scotia on October 26, 1783 was passenger number 29 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on September 20, 1783 at East River, New York [12]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Horton migration to Australia +

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

Horton Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Thomas Horton, English convict who was convicted in Northampton, Northamptonshire, England for life for burglary, transported aboard the "Duke of Portland" in January 1807, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [13]
  • Mr. George Horton, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Baring" in April 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [14]
  • Mr. Richard Horton, British Convict who was convicted in Shropshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Batavia" in October 1817, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [15]
  • Mr. William Horton, (b. 1804), aged 15, English boot maker who was convicted in Warwick, Warwickshire, England for 14 years for house robbery, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 27th October 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) [16]
  • Mr. Benjamin Horton, English convict who was convicted in (Lindsey), Lincolnshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Dromedary" on 11th September 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) [17]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Horton 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:

Horton Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • John Horton, aged 32, a farmer, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Thomas Harrison" in 1842
  • Phoebe Horton, aged 18, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Thomas Harrison" in 1842
  • Mr. John Horton, (b. 1810), aged 32, British agricultural labourer travelling from London aboard the ship "Thomas Harrison" arriving in Nelson, South Island, New Zealand on 28th October 1842 [18]
  • Mrs. Phoebe Horton, (b. 1824), aged 18, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Thomas Harrison" arriving in Nelson, South Island, New Zealand on 28th October 1842 [18]
  • Child Horton, (b. 1842), aged Infant, British settler born aboard the ship "Thomas Harrison" arriving in Nelson, South Island, New Zealand on 28th October 1842 [18]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

West Indies Horton 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. [19]
Horton Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • Robert Horton, who settled in Barbados in 1670
  • Charles Horton, aged 13, who landed in Jamaica in 1684 [11]

Contemporary Notables of the name Horton (post 1700) +

  • Herschella Horton (1938-2022), American politician who served in the Arizona House of Representatives from the 14th district from 1991 to 2001
  • Greg Horton (1951-2016), American NFL football player who played from 1976 to 1979
  • Robert Horton (1924-2016), American television actor, known for Wagon Train (1957), As the World Turns (1956) and A Man Called Shenandoah (1965)
  • Aaron Horton (b. 1992), American soccer player
  • Robert Elmer Horton (1875-1945), American ecologist and soil scientist
  • Ricky Neal Horton (b. 1959), American former Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1984 to 1990
  • Jonathan Alan Horton (b. 1985), American eleven-time gold and silver, twelve-time medalist gymnast
  • Lester Horton (1906-1953), American dancer, choreographer, and teacher
  • Edward Everett Horton (1886-1970), American film and television actor who appeared in more than 120 films, in addition to a body of work on TV
  • Thomas Alfred "Tommy" Horton MBE (1941-2017), English professional golfer who finished in the top ten of the Open Championship four times
  • ... (Another 13 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

HMS Hood
  • Mr. George W Horton (b. 1910), English Petty Officer Steward serving for the Royal Navy from Exeter, Devonshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking [20]
HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. William Horton, British Able Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and died in the sinking [21]
RMS Lusitania
  • Mrs. Elizabeth Horton, English 2nd Class passenger from Sheffield, England, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking and was recovered [22]
Triangle Waist Company
  • Mr. Thomas Horton, American worker who was at Triangle Waist Company factory at the Asch building in Greenwich Village on the 25th March 1911 when fire broke out; he survived the fire [23]


Suggested Readings for the name Horton +

  • Descendants of David Horton of North Carolina by Reta M. Evans.
  • Descendants of Thomas Horton of Springfield; and Including Some Descendants of Phineas Pratt by Carl W. Fischer.

  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  4. 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)
  5. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  6. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  7. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  8. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  9. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  10. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  11. 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)
  12. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  13. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/duke-of-portland
  14. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
  15. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/batavia
  16. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel
  17. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dromedary
  18. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  19. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  20. H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
  21. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
  22. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
  23. Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire (retrieved on 3rd August 2021.) Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triangle_Shirtwaist_Factory_fire


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