Show ContentsGlinton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Though hidden in the annals of history, the chronicles of Scotland reveal the early records of the Norman surname Glinton which ranks as one of the oldest. The history of the name is interwoven within the colorful plaid of Scottish history and is an intrinsic part of the heritage of this ancient nation.

Early Origins of the Glinton family

The surname Glinton was first found in Oxfordshire, where they were recorded as a family of great antiquity seated at Glinton with manor and estates in that shire. They are said to be descended from Reinbaldus who accompanied the Conqueror into England.

Geoffrey de Clinton (fl. 1130), was "Chamberlain and Treasurer to Henry I; he appears to have been the founder of the great Clinton family, and was probably the creator of his own fortunes, though attempts have been made to show that he was descended from William de Tankerville, chamberlain of Normandy. His name seems to occur for the first time in a charter of Henry I to Westminster Abbey - a document that cannot, from the names of the co-signatories, be dated later than 1123. " 1

Sire Johan de Clinton (d. 1315) assumed his surname from Glinton anciently written Clinton. The peerage of Baron Clinton was created for him in 1298. 2 This began a long line of Barons Clinton including: John de Clinton, 2nd Baron Clinton (d. c. 1335); John de Clinton, 3rd Baron Clinton (d. 1398); William de Clinton, 4th Baron Clinton (1378-1431); John de Clinton, 5th Baron Clinton (1410-1464) and others.

Another branch of the family was found at Hunton in Kent. "The manor [of Hunton] afterwards passed to the Gyffords, and in the reign of Edward III. to the family of Clinton, of whose ancient mansion, the site, encompassed by a moat, is still visible near the church." 3

Kenilworth in Warwickshire had a particular significance to the family in early times. "After the Conquest, Henry I. bestowed the manor upon Geoffrey de Clinton, his treasurer and chamberlain, who built the church, and founded a priory for Canons regular of the order of St. Augustine, which he dedicated to the Blessed Virgin. He erected the earlier portion of that stately Castle for the remains of which the town is principally distinguished." 3

To the far south in Devon, in the Domesday Book of 1086, "the park of Heanton Satchville belongs to Lord Clinton, whose seat is in the adjoining parish of Huish, once possessed by the bearers of that ancient name." 4

Early History of the Glinton family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Glinton research. Another 69 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1330, 1378, 1386, 1394, 1397, 1404, 1414, 1415, 1431, 1512, 1572, 1585, 1624, 1646, 1648, 1657, 1686, 1690, 1729, 1731, 1743, 1753, 1761, 1773 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Glinton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Glinton Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Clinton, Glinton, Clintone and others.

Early Notables of the Glinton family

Notable among the family at this time was Sir Thomas Clinton (died 1415), an English soldier and politician, Clinton was a younger son of John de Clinton, 3rd Baron Clinton of Maxstoke, Warwickshire, inherited the manors of Hunton and Bensted in Kent, where he established the family home, knighted before 1386, saw military service in Scotland and on John of Gaunt's expedition to Spain, transferred his allegiance to Thomas Mowbray, the Earl Marshal, following him to Ireland in 1394, elected Member of Parliament for Warwickshire in January 1397 and for Kent in...
Another 92 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Glinton Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Glinton family to Ireland

Some of the Glinton family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 220 words (16 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 Glinton family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Cornelius Clinton who settled in Virginia in 1656; Edward Clinton settled in Barbados in 1654; Joseph Clinton settled in St. Christopher in 1635; John Clinton settled in New England in 1753.



  1. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  2. Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
  3. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  4. Worth, R.N., A History of Devonshire London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.G., 1895. Digital


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