Eyrton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Eyrton

What does the name Eyrton mean?

Eyrton is a name that first reached England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Eyrton family lived in Cumberland at Yrton, from whence they took their name.

Early Origins of the Eyrton family

The surname Eyrton was first found in Cumberland where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor of Yrton (Irton.) The first on record was Richard of Yrton who is mentioned soon after the Norman Conquest in 1066 A.D. He was succeeded by Bertram d'Yrton, then Adam d'Yrton, a knight of St. Jerusalem, who attended Godfrey of Boulogne at the siege of Jerusalem. Adam slew a Saracen General during the siege, by lopping off his head. "The Manor of Irton has belonged also to the [family] almost from the time of the Conquest. " 1

Early History of the Eyrton family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Eyrton research. Another 123 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1280, 1753 and 1820 are included under the topic Early Eyrton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Eyrton Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, Anglo-Norman surnames like Eyrton are characterized by many spelling variations. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages such as Norman French and Latin, even literate people regularly changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Eyrton include Irton, Yrton, d'Yrton, Erton, Eyrton and others.

Early Notables of the Eyrton family

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

Migration of the Eyrton family

Faced with the chaos present in England at that time, many English families looked towards the open frontiers of the New World with its opportunities to escape oppression and starvation. People migrated to North America, as well as Australia and Ireland in droves, paying exorbitant rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, but those who did see the shores of North America were welcomed with great opportunity. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America carried the name Eyrton, or a variant listed above: Thomas Irton who landed in North America in 1710.

The Eyrton Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Semper constans et fidelis
Motto Translation: Always constant and faithful.

Sources +

Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.