The name Aton came to England with the ancestors of the Aton family in the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Aton family lived in Hatton, Cheshire. Another derivation of the name suggests that it comes from the Germanic personal name Hatto, which is composed of the element hadu, which means strife or contention. [1] Although both are valid, time has confused the two definitions and historians now disagree on which is valid in any individual case.
The surname Aton was first found in Cheshire where this "noble family were descended from Sir Adam Hatton, of Hatton, county Cheshire, grandson of Wulfrid, brother of Nigel, who was lord of Halton in the same county, by gift of Hugh Lupus, Earl of Chester, soon after the Conquest." [2]
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Aton research. Another 122 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1066, 1540, 1591, 1546, 1555, 1583, 1658, 1621, 1622, 1624, 1625, 1628, 1629, 1640, 1682, 1674, 1605, 1670, 1632, 1706, 1701, 1783 and 1797 are included under the topic Early Aton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
The 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. Aton has been recorded under many different variations, including Hatton, Hattons, Hattyn, Hattins, Hattans and others.
Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir Christopher Hatton KG (1540-1591), an English politician, Lord Chancellor of England and a favourite of Elizabeth I of England. "He was the second son of William Hatton of Holdenby, Northamptonshire, who died in 1546. The family was old, and claimed, though on doubtful evidence, to be of Norman lineage. Hatton was entered at St. Mary Hall, Oxford, probably about 1555, as a gentleman-commoner." [3]
Sir Thomas Hatton, 1st Baronet (c.1583-1658), was an English politician, Member of Parliament for Corfe...
Another 86 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Aton Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Some of the Aton family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 70 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
To 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. Atons were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America: