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Newtom is one of the many names that the Normans brought with them when they conquered England in 1066. The Newtom family lived in Cheshire, at Newton. The surname Newtom was originally derived from the Old English words, neowe, meaning new, and tun, meaning enclosure or settlement. 1
The surname Newtom was first found in the Domesday Book of 1086 where Alward de Niwetuna was recorded as holding lands in Norfolk at that time. 2 Years later, Robert de Neweton was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1190 for Yorkshire and Stephen de Neuton was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Worcestershire c. 1280. 3
Other early rolls entries include: Gannora de Neutone, Staffordshire; Ralph de Neatone, Huntingdonshire; and Alan de Neuton, Lincolnshire, all listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 include entries for: Willelmus de Neweton; and Johannes de Neuton. 4
While there are many parishes so named, one source claim the family is "from Newton in Haddingtonshire. The family were seated there in 1377; Sir Isaac Newton derived his descent from them." 5
Much of the family was found in Cheshire at Wilmslow, a parish, in the union of Altrincham, hundred of Macclesfield. "In the north chapel [of Wilmslow church] are two altar-tombs sunk in the wall, on which are figures representing the Newtons of Newton and Pownall." 6 We must take a moment to explore the hamlet of Woolsthorpe in Lincolnshire. "This is an ancient hamlet, consisting of a few farmhouses and thatched cottages, with the old manor-house, in which the immortal Sir Isaac Newton was born, on Christmas-day, 1642. His father, John Newton, Esq., was lord of the manor. Great care is taken for the preservation of the house; and when it was repaired, in 1798, a tablet of white marble, commemorating the philosopher's birth, was put up in the chamber where the event took place." 6
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Newtom research. Another 225 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1166, 1374, 1446, 1463, 1479, 1543, 1579, 1626, 1642, 1660, 1661, 1699 and 1727 are included under the topic Early Newtom History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Anglo-Norman names tend to be marked by an enormous number of spelling variations. This is largely due to the fact that Old and Middle English lacked any spelling rules when Norman French was introduced in the 11th century. The languages of the English courts at that time were French and Latin. These various languages mixed quite freely in the evolving social milieu. The final element of this mix is that medieval scribes spelled words according to their sounds rather than any definite rules, so a name was often spelled in as many different ways as the number of documents it appeared in. The name was spelled Newton, Newdon and others.
Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727), the English polymath active as a mathematician, physicist, astronomer, alchemist, theologian, and author. He is probably best remembered for his Principia, where Newton formulated the laws of motion and universal gravitation.
Sir...
Another 42 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Newtom Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Because of the political and religious discontent in England, families began to migrate abroad in enormous numbers. Faced with persecution and starvation at home, the open frontiers and generally less oppressive social environment of the New World seemed tantalizing indeed to many English people. The trip was difficult, and not all made it unscathed, but many of those who did get to Canada and the United States made important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers with Newtom name or one of its variants: Helen Newton, who came to Virginia in 1621; Francis Newton who settled in Virginia in 1635; Richard Newton who came to Virginia in 1635; Samuel Newton and his servants, who arrived in Barbados in 1680.