Show ContentsHintone History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancient history of the Hintone name begins with the ancient Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from when the family resided in the parish of Hinton in the diocese of Salisbury, Winchester, Oxford, Peterborough, Bath and Wells.

There are two very different origins of the word Hinton. First, it means "high (or chief) farmstead," from the Old English "heah" + "tun," and secondly it means "farmstead belonging to a religious community," from the Old English "hiwan" + "tun." 1

From the many parishes found, the oldest is Hinton St. Mary, Dorset which was known in Saxon times as Hamtune in 944. 1

Hinton-in-the-Hedges is a small village and civil parish in West Northamptonshire, England. A church has existed here since Saxon times. The earliest recorded Rector was Sir Richard de Hynton in 1275. There is a monument to Sir William Hinton found here.

Early Origins of the Hintone family

The surname Hintone was first found in the Domesday Book of 1086 where Robert de Hintona was listed. 2

Years later, Thomas de Hyneton was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls of 1230 in Dorset and later, Thomas Hynton was found in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1385. 3

The "Testa de Nevill, sive Liber Feodorum, temp. Henry III-Edward I" included some of the early entries for the family: Thomas de Hynton, Oxfordshire; Lucia de Hineton, Berkshire; and Matilda de Hinton, Middlesex. 4

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed John de Hinton, Cambridgeshire; and Roger de Hinton, Dorset. 5

Early History of the Hintone family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hintone research. Another 95 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1603, 1615, 1627, 1633, 1634, 1637, 1640, 1655, 1664, 1682, 1692 and 1710 are included under the topic Early Hintone History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hintone Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Hintone include Hinton, Hynton, Hintone and others.

Early Notables of the Hintone family

Notables of the family at this time include Sir John Hinton (1603?-1682), English Royalist, born in London about 1603. "On 10 April 1633 he entered Leyden University, where he probably proceeded M.D. He presented himself at the censor's board of the Royal College of Physicians on 6 February 1634, but, as he had not then been engaged in practice for the statutable period of four years, was not examined. On 7 November 1640 he again appeared at...
Another 77 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hintone Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Hintone family

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Hintone or a variant listed above: Elizabeth, Elias, Joane, John Hinton all settled in Virginia in 1623; James Hinton settled in Maryland in 1774; Timothy and William Hinton settled in New England in 1774..



  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  2. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. Testa de Nevill or "Liber Feodorum" or "Book of Fees," thought to have been written by Ralph de Nevill, for King John (1199–1216)
  5. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)


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