Contents [hide]

Dalton History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Dalton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

The Norman Conquest of England in 1066 brought much change to the island nation, including many immigrants with new names. Among these immigrants were the ancestors of the Dalton family, who lived in Nottinghamshire and Staffordshire, where they held lands and estates for many years. They were granted these lands by William the Conqueror for their efforts at the Norman Conquest in 1066. The name is habitational in derivation, and comes from the Old English awiell, which means spring, and tun, which means enclosure or settlement.

Early Origins of the Dalton family

The surname Dalton was first found in Northumberland, Staffordshire, and Lancashire. Of the latter, we found more records than the other branches. At first, the family held estates at Bispham, a village within the borough of Blackpool as far back as the 14th century. Roger Dalton had thirteen children by four wives. This branch also held estates at Thurnham, again in Lancashire.

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 had two listings for the family, both in Northumberland: Henry de Dalton; and William de Dalton. 1

Of note was Lawrence Dalton who died in 1561 and was an officer of arms at the College of Arms in London. "He entered the College of Arms as Calais pursuivant extraordinary, became Rouge Croix pursuivant in 1546, Richmond herald in 1547, and Norroy king of arms by patent 6 Sept. 1557, though his creation as Norroy by Queen Mary at Somerset Place was postponed till 9 Dec. 1558." 2

"The manor was subsequently held by Thomas Lonne, citizen and grocer of London, who, in the reign of Philip and Mary, sold it to the Daltons, of Bispham, which family continues to possess nearly the whole township." 3

Some of the family were found in Scotland where they were "doubtless from Dalton in Northumberland. Mention was made c. 1315 of certain lands in Roxburgh, Kerton, etc., which had belonged to quondam William de Dalton (RSM., I, 14). William de Dalton was bailie of Aberdeen in 1368, Helisei de Dalton was a bailie there, 1396, and Thomas Dalton was admitted burgess of the town in 1409. " 4

Early History of the Dalton family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dalton research. Another 81 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1190, 1284, 1648, 1705, 1709, 1712, 1763, 1792, 1814, 1867 and 1874 are included under the topic Early Dalton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dalton Spelling Variations

A multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Alton, Allton, Allten, Alten, Altoun, Althoun, Althan, Althaun, Aulton, Dalton and many more.

Early Notables of the Dalton family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Michael Dalton (d. 1648?), English author of two legal works of high repute in the seventeenth century, the son of Thomas Dalton of Hildersham, Cambridgeshire. 2
John Dalton (1709-1763), was an English poet and divine, son of the Rev. John Dalton, rector of Dean in Cumberland (1705-1712), born there in 1709. 2

Dalton World Ranking

In the United States, the name Dalton is the 608^th most popular surname with an estimated 47,253 people with that name. 5 However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Dalton is ranked the 120^th most popular surname with an estimated 299 people with that name. 6 And in Australia, the name Dalton is the 396^th popular surname with an estimated 9,360 people with that name. 7 New Zealand ranks Dalton as 552^nd with 1,273 people. 8 The United Kingdom ranks Dalton as 592^nd with 11,030 people. 9

Migration of the Dalton family to Ireland

Some of the Dalton family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 104 words (7 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dalton migration to the United States +

Many English families left England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Dalton or a variant listed above:

Dalton Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Philemon Dalton, aged 45, linen weaver arrived on the ship "Increase" in the year 1635 10
Mrs. Hanna Dalton, aged 35, who arrived in New England in 1635, aboard the ship "Increase" 10
Samuel Dalton, who landed in Hampton, NH in 1635 10
Samuel Dalton, aged 5, who arrived in New England in 1635 aboard the ship "Increase" 10
William Dalton is recorded as arriving on the "Goodfellow" in 1654, having been sent by the command of the English Government, after the Cromwellian Invasions of Ireland
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dalton Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Thomas Dalton, who arrived in Virginia in 1714 10
James Dalton, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1766 10
John Dalton, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1768 10
Edward Dalton, aged 28, who arrived in New England in 1774 10

Dalton Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Thomas Dalton, who landed in America in 1810 10
Andrew Dalton, aged 25, who arrived in New York in 1812 10
Patrick Dalton, aged 26, who landed in Maryland in 1813 10
Henry Dalton, who landed in New York, NY in 1815 10
Mrs. Dalton, who arrived in Mobile, Ala in 1822 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dalton migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Dalton Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Catherine Dalton, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1811
Richard Dalton, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1834
Ellen Dalton, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1835
Thomas Dalton, aged 35, a farmer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1838 aboard the barque "Rebecca" from Liverpool, England
Margaret Dalton, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1839
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dalton migration to Australia +

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

Dalton Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. John Dalton, (b. 1788), aged 21, Irish convict who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Boyd" on 10th March 1809, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
James Dalton, French convict from Valenciennes, who was transported aboard the "Almorah" on April 1817, settling in New South Wales, Australia 12
Mr. Alexander Dalton, British Convict who was convicted in Gibraltar for 14 years, transported aboard the "Caledonia" on 5th July 1820, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 13
Mr. John Dalton, (Datton), (b. 1780), aged 40, Irish coachman who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 14 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Dorothy" on 5th May 1820, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 14
Mr. Peter Dalton, Jr., (b. 1806), aged 20, English convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Earl St Vincent" on 20th April 1826, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he was killed in 1830 15
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Dalton 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:

Dalton Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Annie Dalton, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1842
Mr. David Dalton, British settler, as the 2nd Detachment of New Zealand Corps of Royal New Zealand Fencibles travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Minerva" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 8th October 1847 16
Ellen Dalton, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Cashmere" in 1853 17
Miss Sophia Dalton, (b. 1835), aged 24, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Mary Anne" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 4th August 1859 16
Miss Martha Dalton, (b. 1839), aged 20, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Mary Anne" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 4th August 1859 16
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Dalton (post 1700) +

John Dalton FRS (1766-1844), English chemist, meteorologist and physicist, best known for his research into color blindness often named Daltonism in his honor and for developing the modern atomic theory
John David Dalton (1942-2022), British born-American author and a founding editor of Rolling Stone magazine
Major-General Joseph Nicholas Dalton (1892-1961), American Director of Personnel, Army Service Forces (1945-1946) 18
Brigadier-General James Leo II Dalton (1910-1945), American Assistant Commanding General 25th Division (1945) 19
Irene Dalton (1901-1934), American actress
George Dalton (b. 1947), American playwright
Lional Dalton (b. 1975), American NFL football player
Emmett Dalton (1861-1937), U.S. outlaw, member of the Dalton Gang who later became an author and actor
Henry Dalton (b. 1847), American physician
Booker Dalton (1869-1948), American politician, Member of Virginia State House of Delegates, 1913-15
... (Another 62 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Dalton family +

HMAS Sydney II

Mr. Lionel Sydney Dalton (1902-1941), Australian Commander (E) from Mosman, New South Wales, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 20

SS Newfoundland

Mr. Jacob Dalton, Newfoundlander from Little Catalina, who on the 30th March 1914 he was part of the Seal Crew of the "SS Newfoundland" leaving the ship to intercept the Stephano which took him to the hunting grounds, he disembarked to begin sealing, but was caught in a thickening storm, attempting to return to the Newfoundland he and the 132 crew made camp for two days the sealers were stranded on the ice in a blizzard attempting to return to the ship, he survived

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)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
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)
"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)
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 27th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Boyd
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Almorah voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1817 with 180 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/almorah/1817
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/caledonia
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dorothy
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th September 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-st-vincent
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 5th November 2010). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, January 10) Joseph Dalton. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Dalton/Joseph_Nicholas/USA.html
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, January 10) James Dalton. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Dalton/James_Leo_II/USA.html
HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp