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![Show Contents]() Oltown History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Oltown is a name that first reached England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Oltown family lived in Cheshire, at Oulton. There are parishes so named in Norfolk, Suffolk, West Riding of Yorkshire, Cheshire, and Cumberland. "The family, however, seem to have sprung, so far as North England is concerned, from the township of Oulton, near Tarporley, Cheshire." 1 Another source agrees: "The manor and township of Oulton gave a name to some ancient Cheshire families." 2 Early Origins of the Oltown familyThe surname Oltown was first found in Cheshire at Oulton, at the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066, when Serlon de Burcy of the Canton of Vassey in Normandy, was granted lands by King William for his assistance at the Battle of Hastings, and these lands descended to Nigel Burcy in 1086. At one time the family held Leighton in Cheshire as noted: "The manor belonged anciently to a family that took their name from the township, and by whom it was conveyed, by a deed without date, to the Oulton family. The Erdswicks acquired the estate in 1328, by exchange with the Oultons." 3 The Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1279 listed Alan de Oldeton and a few years later Nicholas atte Noulton was listed in Worcestershire in 1327. 4 Further to the north, Henry de Oulton was listed in the Feet of Fines of Yorkshire in 1328. In 1455, Earwaker's East Cheshire listed Thomas Olton as holding estates in Mottram, Cheshire and Richard Olton, of Congleton was listed in the Wills at Chester in 1588. The same source listed Blanch Oulton, of Bradley as a widow in 1629. 1 Early History of the Oltown familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Oltown research. Another 71 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Oltown History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Oltown Spelling VariationsThe English language only became standardized in the last few centuries. For that reason, spelling variations are common among many Anglo-Norman names. The shape of the English language was frequently changed with the introduction of elements of Norman French, Latin, and other European languages; even the spelling of literate people's names were subsequently modified. Oltown has been recorded under many different variations, including Oulton, Olton, Owlton, Oolton, Ouldon, Oulden and others. Early Notables of the Oltown familyMore information is included under the topic Early Oltown Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Oltown familyTo escape the uncertainty of the political and religious uncertainty found in England, many English families boarded ships at great expense to sail for the colonies held by Britain. The passages were expensive, though, and the boats were unsafe, overcrowded, and ridden with disease. Those who were hardy and lucky enough to make the passage intact were rewarded with land, opportunity, and social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families went on to be important contributors to the young nations of Canada and the United States where they settled. Oltowns were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America: John Oulden who settled in West New Jersey in 1772; Jane Olton settled in Jamaica in 1663.
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
- Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
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England
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