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Show ContentsNorton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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The surname Norton is derived from a place name, derived from the Od English words "norð" or "north" and "tun," meaning "enclosure." The Norton surname is considered to have arisen independently, coming from one of the many places so named throughout Britain.

Early Origins of the Norton family

The surname Norton was first found in Kent where Osuuardus de Nordton 1 was on record in the Domesday Book of 1086. "Egbert Coigniers whose son Roger was living in the ninth year of Edward II., and was father of Roger, who marrying the heiress of Norton of Norton, their son took that name." 2

However, "the Gazetter mentions between forty and fifty parish, townships, &c., [etc.] so called, and there are hundreds of farms and minor localities [named Norton.]" 3

Literally, the place name means "northern farmstead or homestead". 4 Other early records of the family include a Norton, in a Herald's visitation in 1043 listed in the Harlein Manuscripts. Another early record of the name is Leofwin de Norton in the Pipe Rolls for Lincolnshire for 1177. 5

Early History of the Norton family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Norton research. Another 78 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1275, 1296, 1436, 1477, 1507, 1508, 1532, 1548, 1582, 1584, 1601, 1602, 1604, 1606, 1613, 1614, 1615, 1620, 1621, 1622, 1645, 1661, 1663, 1679, 1685, 1687, 1689 and 1691 are included under the topic Early Norton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Norton Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Norton, Nordton, Northon, Northinton, Northington and others.

Early Notables of the Norton family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • Thomas Norton (died c. 1477), English alchemist, elected a member of the UK Parliament from Bristol in 1436
  • Samuel Norton (1548- c. 1604), scientist, justice of the peace and sheriff of Somerset
  • Thomas Norton (1532-1584), English lawyer, politician, writer of verse, known for his anti-Catholic actions
  • Sir Richard Norton of Rotherfield, Southhampton, who was created a Baronet on May 23, 1622
  • Sir Richard Norton, 1st Baronet (1582-1645), an English politician, Member of Parliament for Petersfield (1621-1622), High Sheriff of Hampshire (1613-1614)
  • Sir Thomas Norton, 1st Baronet (1615-1691), an English politician, Member of Parliament for Coventry (1685-1689)

Norton World Ranking

In the United States, the name Norton is the 466th most popular surname with an estimated 59,688 people with that name. 6 However, in Australia, the name Norton is ranked the 397th most popular surname with an estimated 9,354 people with that name. 7 And in New Zealand, the name Norton is the 404th popular surname with an estimated 1,627 people with that name. 8 The United Kingdom ranks Norton as 474th with 13,618 people. 9

Ireland Migration of the Norton family to Ireland

Some of the Norton family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 40 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

United States Norton migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Norton Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Thomas Norton, who arrived in Jamestown, Va in 1608 aboard the ship "Second Supply" 10
  • Francis Norton, who arrived in New Hampshire in 1630 10
  • Francis Norton, who landed in New England in 1631 10
  • Walter Norton, who landed in New England in 1631 10
  • William Norton, who landed in New England in 1631 10
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Norton Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Eliza Norton, who arrived in Virginia in 1701 10
  • Teague Norton, who landed in Virginia in 1701 10
  • Elizabeth Norton, who landed in Virginia in 1718 10
  • Hannah Norton, who settled in Maryland in 1725
  • John Norton, who landed in Virginia in 1777 10
Norton Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • William Norton, who landed in America in 1800 10
  • Mary Norton, who arrived in America in 1807 10
  • B H Norton, who arrived in Mobile, Ala in 1822 10
  • E S Norton, who arrived in Mobile, Ala in 1822 10
  • Patrick Norton, who arrived in Mississippi in 1844 10
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Norton migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Norton Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • William Norton, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • Mr. Elias Norton U.E. who settled in Parr Town, Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 11
Norton Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Caleb Norton, who landed in Canada in 1828
  • Henry R Norton, who arrived in Canada in 1830
  • Andrew K Norton, who arrived in Canada in 1831
  • Sally Norton, aged 18, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Sea Horse" from Galway, Ireland
  • Mr. James Norton, aged 4 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Blonde" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle in June 1847 12
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Norton migration to Australia +

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

Norton Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Norton, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Countess of Harcourt" on 29th April 1828, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 13
  • Mr. John Norton who was convicted in Surrey, England for 7 years for murder, transported aboard the "Camden" on 21st March 1831, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 14
  • Mr. Patrick Norton, (b. 1804), aged 27, English farmers man who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 7 years for manslaughter, transported aboard the "Exmouth" on 3rd March 1831, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 15
  • Henry Norton, English convict from Norfolk, who was transported aboard the "Andromeda" on November 13, 1832, settling in New South Wales, Australia 16
  • Mr. Michael Norton, British Convict who was convicted in Lancaster, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Asia" on 5th November 1835, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land)1836 17
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Norton 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:

Norton Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Norton, (b. 1792), aged 55, Irish settler arriving as Detachment of the Royal New Zealand Fencibles travelling aboard the ship "Sir Robert Sale" from Gravesend via Cork arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 11th October 1847 18
  • Mr. James Norton, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Kingston" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 29th December 1858 19
  • Miss Mary Norton, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Derwent Water" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 26th November 1861 19
  • John Norton, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Blue Jacket" in 1865
  • Matilda Norton, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Empress" in 1865
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

West Indies Norton 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. 20
Norton Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • Mr. George Norton, (b. 1613), aged 22, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Alexander" arriving in Barbados in 1635 21

Contemporary Notables of the name Norton (post 1700) +

  • Kenneth Howard "Ken" Norton (1943-2013), American boxer, and film actor, Heavyweight boxing champion (WBC) in 1978
  • Eleanor Holmes Norton (b. 1937), American lawyer, government official, professor of law, Georgetown University, (1982-)
  • Augustus Richard Norton (1946-2019), American army officer and professor of international relations and anthropology at the Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University
  • Richard Eugene "Rick" Norton (1943-2013), American collegiate and AFL professional football quarterback for the Miami Dolphins (1966–1969)
  • Peter Norton (b. 1943), American programmer, software publisher, author, and philanthropist
  • Edward Norton (b. 1969), American film actor
  • Greg Norton (b. 1959), American musician, bassist for Minnesota punk band Hüsker Dü
  • William Elliot Norton (1903-2003), American drama critic
  • Charles Eliot Norton (1827-1908), American scholar and teacher, professor of the history of art at Harvard (1875-98)
  • John Norton, Iroquois chief born of a Cherokee father and a Scottish mother, who fought for the British side against the Americans in the war of 1812
  • ... (Another 113 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Halifax Explosion
  • Mrs. Sarah L.  Norton (1845-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 22
HMAS Sydney II
  • Mr. John Thomas Henry Norton (1905-1941), Australian Leading Stoker from Redfern, New South Wales, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 23
  • Mr. Montague Alfred Huxley Norton (1907-1941), Australian Engine Room Artificer 4th Class from Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 23
  • Mr. William Frederick Cecil Norton (1908-1941), Australian Able Seaman from Glebe, New South Wales, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 23
HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. P Norton, British Mechanician, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 24
  • Mr. Norton, British Ordinary Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 24
RMS Lusitania

Suggested Readings for the name Norton +

  • Generations Back: Norton & Related Lines by Sarah Mills Norton.
  • The Nortons from the Norman Conquest through the Settlement of Guilford, Connecticut by Harold George Gibboney.
  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  2. Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
  3. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  4. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  5. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  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. 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)
  11. 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
  12. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 50)
  13. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 19th April 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/countess-of-harcourt
  14. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 2nd December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/camden
  15. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th May 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/exmouth
  16. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 27) Andromeda voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1832 with 186 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/andromeda/1832
  17. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th January 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1835
  18. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  19. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  20. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  21. Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's retrieved 28th September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  22. Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
  23. HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
  24. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
  25. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 7) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
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