Elerton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Elerton is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from when the family lived in Yorkshire where we find Ellerton Abbey in the North Riding, Ellerton Priory in the East Riding and Ellerton upon Swale in the North Riding. Ellerton Abbey was the home of a small priory of Cistercian nuns, thought to have been founded by Warnerius, dapifer to the Earl of Richmond, in the time of Henry II., and Ellerton Priory is home to a church, which in a dilapidated state, is part of the nave of the ancient structure, which joined a priory built by William Fitz-Piers, before 1212, for canons of the Semperingham order. Ellerton upon Swale was the property of the Earl of Tyrconnel, and home to Henry Jenkins, who lived to the extraordinary age of 169 years, born and died there on the 8th of December, 1670. 1

All three places collectively date back to the Domesday Book of 1086 when they were known as Elreton 2 and literally meant "farmstead by the alders." 3

Early Origins of the Elerton family

The surname Elerton was first found in Yorkshire where the first record was that of Ralph de Elreton in the Assize Rolls for 1204. Roger de Ethelartone was found in Staffordshire in 1307. 4

(Prior) de Ellerton was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 and later in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379, Agnes de Ellerton; and Johannes de Ellyrton were both listed as holding lands at that time. 5

John de Ellerton, tannour, was a Freeman of York, 28 Edward I (in the twenty-eighth year of King Edward I's reign.)

Early History of the Elerton family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Elerton research. Another 77 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1200, 1273, 1770, 1792, 1795, 1799, 1805, 1807, 1814, 1815, 1825, 1828, 1832, 1851 and 1873 are included under the topic Early Elerton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Elerton Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Elerton are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Elerton include: Ellerton, Elerton and others.

Early Notables of the Elerton family

Notables of the family at this time include Edward Ellerton, founder of scholarships, son of Richard Ellerton of Downholm, Yorkshire, was born in 1770; was educated at Richmond School: matriculated at Oxford as a member of University College; and graduated B.A, in 1792, and M.A. in 1795. Ellerton was appointed master of Magdalen College school in 1799; was afterwards elected fellow of the same college, and proceeded B.D. in 1805, and D.D. in 1815. He was appointed to the perpetual curacy of Horspath, Oxfordshire, in 1814, and to the perpetual curacy of Sevenhampton, Gloucestershire, in 1825, resigning the latter charge early...
Another 212 words (15 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Elerton Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Elerton family

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Elerton or a variant listed above: James Ellerton settled in Barbados in 1654.

The Elerton 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: Spero infestis, metuo secundis
Motto Translation: I hope in adversity, I fear in prosperity.

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)