Show ContentsEltherington History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Eltherington

What does the name Eltherington mean?

The Anglo-Saxon name Eltherington comes from the family having resided in Hetherington, Northumberland. The "E" prefix as in the name Etherington is a shortened form of the name and has the same phonetic sound. 1

Early Origins of the Eltherington family

The surname Eltherington was first found in Northumberland at Hetherington. This ancient Saxon village was derived from the word "haeth", meaning a heath and "tun" a settlement, thus "the farm of the heath." 2

Edmund de Hetherynton was listed in the Assize Rolls of Northumberland in 1316. 3 But before that, Richard de Hetherington was listed in the Assize Rolls of 1298 eighteen years before. 3

"The Hetheringtons, who have their present home in Carlisle and its neighbourhood, belong to an ancient border - family that often produced persons of note; in the reign of Henry VIII. George Hethrington, as king's bailiff, "kept watch and ward" in the parish of Kirklinton, on the west marches (H.). Ambrose Hetherington was vicar of Kendal in the reign of Elizabeth." 4

Early History of the Eltherington family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Eltherington research. Another 135 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1100 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Eltherington History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Eltherington Spelling Variations

Eltherington has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Spelling variants included: Etherington, Ethrington, Ethlington, Hetherington, Hetherton and many more.

Early Notables of the Eltherington family

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

Migration of the Eltherington family to Ireland

Some of the Eltherington family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 107 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Eltherington family

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Eltheringtons to arrive on North American shores: Jon Etherington sailed to Barbados in 1634. Later he moved his family to the nearby island of St. Christopher. In 1771 Terrence Etherington sailed into the harbour of New York. Robert Etherington was to join him three years later in 1774. Later members of the Etherington family name were to join other colonists who settled in New England..



  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Hanks, Patricia and Flavia Hodges, A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. Print. (ISBN 0-19-211592-8)
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.


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