Gailton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Gailton

What does the name Gailton mean?

Gailton is one of the many new names that came to England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Gailton family lived in a place named Galton in Dorset. The place-name was originally derived from the Old English words gafol, which means tributre and tun, which means enclosure or settlement. Together, these words refer to an estate that was held by the payment of rent rather than by feudal ties. The Gailton family were lords of the manor of Galton and they received their lands from William the Conqueror as a reward for their participation in the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Immediately following the Norman Conquest, William the Conqueror drastically changed the appearance of the social hierarchy in England by dispossessing nearly all Anglo-Saxon landholders and replacing them with his own followers and military supporters.

Early Origins of the Gailton family

The surname Gailton was first found in Dorset, England where they were Lords of the manor of Galton from very ancient times, and received the lands from William the Conqueror for their assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D. They were descended from a Norman noble of the name De Galton.

Early History of the Gailton family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gailton research. Another 65 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Gailton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gailton Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. When the Normans became the ruling people of England in the 11th century, they introduced a new language into a society where the main languages of Old and later Middle English had no definite spelling rules. These languages were more often spoken than written, so they blended freely with one another. Contributing to this mixing of tongues was the fact that medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, ensuring that a person's name would appear differently in nearly every document in which it was recorded. The name has been spelled Gailton, Gaulton, Galtone, Galton and others.

Early Notables of the Gailton family

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

Migration of the Gailton family

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that plagued their homeland made the frontiers of the New World an attractive prospect. Thousands migrated, aboard cramped disease-ridden ships. They arrived sick, poor, and hungry, but were welcomed in many cases with far greater opportunity than at home in England. Many of these hardy settlers went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Among early immigrants bearing the name Gailton or a variant listed above were: Reynold Galton who settled in Nevis in the Caribbean in 1654. In Newfoundland, John Galton settled in Trinity Bay in 1767; John Gaulton settled in Trinity in 1832.

The Gailton 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: Gaudet luce videri
Motto Translation: Rejoices to be seen in the light.