Hoptown History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Hoptown is an ancient Norman name that arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Hoptown family lived in Hopton, Shropshire. The name is derived from the Old English words "hop" + "tun" and literally means "farmstead in a small enclosed valley or enclosed plot of land." 1 There are numerous entries in the Domesday Book with various spellings: Hotune, Hopetuna, Opetune, and Hoptone. 2

Early Origins of the Hoptown family

The surname Hoptown was first found in Suffolk where Thomas de Hopeton was found in the Pipe Rolls of 1196. In Yorkshire, Robert de Hopton was listed in 1250 and much later, William Hopton was found in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1478. 3

As previously mentioned, some claim descent from Shropshire where Hopton Castle, Hopton Heath and Hopton Wafers are found. Hopton Castle built by one of the Hopton family, is located in the village of the same name and dates back to at least the 12th century as a motte and bailey.

The last Walter Hopton died during the Wars of the Roses and the castle passed by marriage to the Corbet family of Moreton Corbet castle. The Battle of Hopton Heath took place during the First English Civil War (1642-1646), on Sunday 19 March 1643 between Parliamentarian forces led by Sir John Gell, 1st Baronet and Sir William Brereton and a Royalist force.

Hopton is also located in Derbyshire, Staffordshire, Suffolk and Upper Hopton is found in West Yorkshire. Hopton-on-Sea is a village, civil parish in Norfolk. Some of the family were found at Armley in the West Riding of Yorkshire at one time. "Armley House is a noble mansion of the Ionic order, situated in an extensive and richly-wooded park. The old Hall, anciently the residence of the Hoptons, lords of the manor, is now a farmhouse." 4

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included Osbert de Hopeton, Suffolk, Nicholas Hopetun, Cambridgeshire, and Ricardus de Hopetone, Norfolk. 5

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Johannes de Hopton, Willelmus de Hopton, and Adam de Hopton. 5

Early History of the Hoptown family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hoptown research. Another 126 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1472, 1492, 1504, 1510, 1519, 1553, 1555, 1558, 1559, 1564, 1570, 1571, 1590, 1595, 1596, 1600, 1602, 1604, 1611, 1621, 1622, 1627, 1628, 1629, 1638, 1640, 1642, 1652, 1709, 1787 and 1790 are included under the topic Early Hoptown History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hoptown Spelling Variations

Norman surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are largely due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England, as well as the official court languages of Latin and French, also had pronounced influences on the spelling of surnames. Since medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings. The name has been spelled Hopton, Hobton, Hoptone and others.

Early Notables of the Hoptown family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was David Hopton (died 1492), Canon of Windsor from 1472 to 1492; Sir Ralph Hopton (1510-1571), of Witham, Somerset, an English politician, Member of Parliament for Somerset (1553 and 1555) and for Heytesbury in 1559; John Hopton (d. 1558), Bishop of Norwich; Ralph Hopton, 1st Baron Hopton (1596-1652), a Royalist commander in the English Civil War, Member of Parliament for Shaftesbury (1621-1622), Member...
Another 70 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hoptown Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Hoptown family

Many English families emigrated to North American colonies in order to escape the political chaos in Britain at this time. Unfortunately, many English families made the trip to the New World 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 stormy Atlantic. Despite these hardships, many of the families prospered and went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the United States and Canada. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Hoptown or a variant listed above: Charles Hopton who settled in Barbados in 1687; another Charles Hopton settled in North Carolina in 1701; George Hopton settled in Maryland in 1679; Walven Hopton settled in Virginia in 1654..

Citations +

Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)