Show ContentsCoulton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The origins of the Coulton name lie with England's ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It comes from when the family lived in Colton. There are places named Colton in Staffordshire, Norfolk and North Yokshire. Although the Staffordshire origin is more common some families' names are derived from the Norfolk location.

Early Origins of the Coulton family

The surname Coulton was first found in Colton or Coulton, located in Staffordshire, North Yorkshire, Norfolk and Cumbria. The places had a variety of listings in the Domesday Book including Coletuna 1, Coletune (North Yorkshire) and Coltone (Staffordshire.) However, the meaning of the place names were essentially the same: "farmstead of a man called Cola or Koli" having derived from the Old English or Old Scandinavian personal name + tun. 2 The Cumbria placename was originally listed as Coleton in 1202, but its origins may have been much earlier.

One of the first records of the family was John Colton (d. 1404), Archbishop of Armagh, "said to have been born at Terrington in Norfolk. He was chaplain to William Bateman, Bishop of Norwich, who may have introduced him to Edmond Gonville, the founder of Caius and Gonville College, Cambridge, of which he was appointed the first master in 1348. " 3

Early History of the Coulton family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Coulton research. Another 116 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1126, 1235, 1296, 1320, 1371 and 1404 are included under the topic Early Coulton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Coulton 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 Coulton were recorded, including Colton, Coulton and others.

Early Notables of the Coulton family

Another 39 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Coulton Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Coulton family to Ireland

Some of the Coulton family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 30 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Coulton migration to the United States +

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 Coulton family emigrate to North America:

Coulton Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • An Coulton, who landed in Virginia in 1658 4
Coulton Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • P Coulton, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 4

Australia Coulton migration to Australia +

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

Coulton Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Samuel Coulton, aged 22, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1856 aboard the ship "Fitzjames"

New Zealand Coulton 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:

Coulton Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • W. G. Coulton, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Triumph" in 1883

Contemporary Notables of the name Coulton (post 1700) +

  • Jonathan Coulton (b. 1970), American singer-songwriter
  • David Trevena Coulton (1810-1857), English journalist and miscellaneous writer, born at Devizes, Wiltshire, a grandson of the Rev. J. Coulton 5
  • Nicholas Guy Coulton, English clergyman, Provost of Newcastle (1990-2000)
  • Frank Coulton (1862-1929), English footballer who played from 1888 to 1893
  • Mr. William Coulton, British sheriff, held the joint position of Sheriff of Nottingham, England from 1677 to 1678
  • Ms. Lorraine Coulton M.B.E., British Senior Communications Officer for HM Naval Base Devonport, was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire on 29th December 2018 for services to the Royal Navy 6
  • George Gordon "G. G." Coulton FBA (1858-1947), British historian, known for studies on medieval history, Fellow of St John's College, Cambridge in 1919, and Fellow of the British Academy in 1929
  • Mark Maclean Coulton (b. 1958), Australian politician, Member of the Australian Parliament for Parkes (2007-)


  1. Page, William (ed), A History of the County of Norfolk. London: Victoria County History, 1906. Print
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  3. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  4. 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)
  5. Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 30 June 2020
  6. "Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62507, 28 December 2018 | London Gazette, The Gazette, Dec. 2018, www.thegazette.co.uk/honours-lists


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