Huntingtan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The ancestors of the bearers of the Huntingtan family name are thought have lived in ancient Anglo-Saxon England. They were first found in the settlement of Huntingdon in the county of Huntingdonshire, or in one of the various places called Huntington in Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, and the North Riding of Yorkshire.

Early Origins of the Huntingtan family

The surname Huntingtan was first found in Huntingdon in Huntingdonshire. "This place, called by the Saxons Huntantun, and in the Norman survey Huntersdune, appears to have derived its name from its situation in a tract of country which was anciently an extensive forest abounding with deer, and well suited for the purposes of the chase. A castle was built here in 917 by Edward the Elder, and enlarged by David, Earl of Huntingdon and King of Scotland." 1

The source Old English Bynames, includes Eustace de Huntedune, de Huntendone who was registered in the Domesday Book of 1086. 2 Years later, Humphrey de Huntendun was registered in Bedfordshire in 1202, as was William de Huntinton in the Subsidy Rolls for Worcestershire c. 1280. In Lancashire, Robert Huntyngdon was listed there in the Assize Rolls of 1375. 3

Gregory of Huntingdon (fl. 1290), was an early English monk of Ramsey, of which abbey he is said to have been prior for thirty-eight years, is described as a man of much learning, acquainted with Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. 4

Henry of Huntingdon (1084?-1155), was an early historian, born between 1080 and 1085, the son of Nicholas, a churchman, whom he styles 'stella cleri,' and who may possibly have been the archdeacon of Huntingdon who had died in 1110. 4

By the time of the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, the name was widespread: Adam de Huntindon, London; Alan de Huntingdon, Lincolnshire; Robert de Huntingdon, Huntingdonshire; and Agnes de Huntingdone, Cambridgeshire. 5

In Yorkshire, Peter Wodfoghel de Huntington, was listed as Freeman of York (1313-1320) and the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 included: Johannes de Huntyngton; and Thomas de Huntyngton as both holding lands there at that time. 5

Early History of the Huntingtan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Huntingtan research. Another 93 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1553, 1637, 1683 and 1701 are included under the topic Early Huntingtan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Huntingtan Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Huntingtan include Huntington, Huntingdon and others.

Early Notables of the Huntingtan family

Notables of this surname at this time include: John Huntinton (fl. 1553), English poet and preacher who was apparently educated at Oxford, where he became 'noted among his contemporaries for a tolerable poet.' 4 Reverend...
Another 33 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Huntingtan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Huntingtan family

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Huntingtan or a variant listed above: Charles Huntington arrived in New England in 1654; Christopher and Margaret Huntington settled in Boston in 1633; with their sons Simon and Thomas; Lydia Huntington settled in Virginia in 1642..

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)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)