Galton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
France

The name Galton was carried to England in the enormous movement of people that followed the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Galton 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 Galton 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 Galton family

The surname Galton was first found in Dorset 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 Galton family

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

Galton Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Gailton, Gaulton, Galtone, Galton and others.

Early Notables of the Galton family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Galton of Dorset

Galton migration to the United States +

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Galton or a variant listed above:

Galton Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Reynold Galton who settled in Nevis in the Caribbean in 1654

Galton migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Galton Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

John Galton, who settled in Trinity Bay, Newfoundland in 1767

Contemporary Notables of the name Galton (post 1700) +

Samuel Tertius Galton (1783-1844), American businessman and scientist
Samuel Galton Jr. (1753-1832), American arms manufacturer
Raymond Percy "Ray" Galton OBE (1930-2018), English radio and television scriptwriter, best known for the Galton and Simpson comedy writing partnership with Alan Simpson
Sir Francis Galton FRS (1822-1911), English Victorian polymath awarded the Darwin Medal in 1902
Peter Galton, British vertebrate paleontologist
Douglas Strutt Galton (1822-1899), British engineer
Sir Charles Galton Darwin KBE, MC, FRS (1887-1962), English physicist and grandson of Charles Darwin
Galton Blackiston (b. 1962), English chef, born in Norfolk, his hotel Morston Hall is Michelin starred with 3 AA rosettes

The Galton 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.