Show ContentsBameton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The origins of the Bameton name lie with England's ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It comes from when the family lived in one of numerous places in England named Bampton. Among these are two villages, and parishes in the counties of Devon, Oxford, Cumberland, and Westminster.

Early Origins of the Bameton family

The surname Bameton was first found in Devon, at Bampton, a market-town and parish, in the union of Tiverton, hundred of Bampton. "Bampton is supposed by Bishop Gibson to have been the Beamdune of the Saxon Chronicle, where, in 614, the Britons were defeated with great slaughter by Cynegils, King of the West Saxons." 1

The first on record was Robert de Bampton, son of Walter de Douay who held Bampton at the time of the Conquest. He had only one daughter "who brought the manor to the Paganells. " 2

Later it was the birth place and home to John de Bampton, Archdeacon of Lewes from 1395 to 1419. Many believe that this Carmelite monk whose intervention as a royal official to collect unpaid taxes in Brentwood led to the Peasant's Revolt (Wat Tyler's Rebellion) in 1381.

Bampton Castle in Devon, is a Saxon mound built into a castle which fell in 1607 and only the motte remains today. Another Bampton Castle was fund in Oxfordshire which one reference claims that "in about 1142 AD during the reign of Stephen, Matilda a motte castle was built." This latter castle was demolished before 1789.

John Bampton (fl. 1340), was an early theologian of the fourteenth century, born at Bampton, in Devon. 3

Early History of the Bameton family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bameton research. Another 352 words (25 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1208, 1300, 1332, 1400, 1500, 1642, 1690, 1700, 1718, 1751 and 1785 are included under the topic Early Bameton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bameton Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Bameton were recorded, including Bampton, Bempton, Bamtone, Bamton, Bammton, Bameton and many more.

Early Notables of the Bameton family

More information is included under the topic Early Bameton Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Bameton family

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Bameton family emigrate to North America: Thomas Bampton, who sailed to Nova Scotia in 1749. Charles Bampton was recorded in the Algoma District of Ontario in 1871.



  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Worth, R.N., A History of Devonshire London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.G., 1895. Digital
  3. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print


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