Houghtan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The name Houghtan came to England with the ancestors of the Houghtan family in the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Houghtan family lived in Haughton, Cheshire. The name of this place derives from the Old English word halh, which means nook or recess, and tun, which means village or settlement. 1

Early Origins of the Houghtan family

The surname Houghtan was first found in Cheshire at Haughton (or Haughton Moss), a village and civil parish. This village is by far the largest of the listings of the place name in England. Looking back further, there are at least three listings of the place name Haughton in the Domesday Book in its earliest forms: Hoctum in Nottinghamshire; Haustone in Shropshire; and Halstone or Haltone in Staffordshire. 2

Today Haughton Castle is a privately owned country mansion near the village of Humshaugh, Northumberland and dates back to the 13th century when it was a tower house. It was enlarged and fortified in the 14th century. By the 16th century, the castle had fallen into ruin, but by the early 19th century the ruins were converted into the mansion it is today. Houghton Hall is a country house in Norfolk, England built for British Prime Minister, Sir Robert Walpole.

Another early branch of the family was found at Hooton, again in Cheshire. "This place, in the Domesday Book, is included in the possessions of Richard de Vernon, the Norman Baron of Shipbrook, under whom it was held by a family named Hotone, which became extinct in the male line in the reign of Richard I. It then passed by marriage to Randle Walensis or Welshman, after which alliance, his family occasionally assumed the name of Hotone." 3

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed John de Haleghton, Yorkshire; and Alexander de Houhton, Cambridgeshire. 4

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls included: Matilda de Halghton, huswyf, webster, 1370; and Willelmus de Halghton, 1379. 4

The Assize Rolls of Staffordshire included: Robert de Haleghton in 1242. 5

Adam de Houghton or Houtone (d. 1389), was Bishop of St. David's and Chancellor of England, "born at Caerforiog in the parish of Whitchurch, near St. David's, but his name clearly shows that his family was of English or Norman origin. Foss's conjecture that he was a son of John de Houghton, Baron of the Exchequer in 1347, seems untenable. Adam de Houghton was educated at Oxford, where he took the degree of doctor of laws. " 6

Early History of the Houghtan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Houghtan research. Another 206 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1114, 1130, 1488, 1535, 1548, 1597, 1604, 1605, 1621, 1624, 1642, 1647, 1663, 1691, 1705 and 1720 are included under the topic Early Houghtan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Houghtan Spelling Variations

Multitudes of spelling variations are a hallmark of Anglo Norman names. Most of these names evolved in the 11th and 12th century, in the time after the Normans introduced their own Norman French language into a country where Old and Middle English had no spelling rules and the languages of the court were French and Latin. To make matters worse, medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, so names frequently appeared differently in the various documents in which they were recorded. The name was spelled Haughton, Houghton, Hoctor, Hector and others.

Early Notables of the Houghtan family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was John Houghton (1488?-1535), English prior of the London Charterhouse, born in Essex of honourable parents in or about 1488, studied at Cambridge, and took the degrees of B.A. and LL.B. "His parents then wished him to marry, but as he had resolved to embrace the ecclesiastical life, he left them and dwelt in concealment with a devout priest until he could himself take holy orders. " 6Sir Robert Houghton (1548-1624), was an English judge, son of John Houghton of Gunthorpe, Norfolk and was born at Gunthorpe on 3...
Another 95 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Houghtan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Houghtan family to Ireland

Some of the Houghtan family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 105 words (8 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 Houghtan family

Because of this political and religious unrest within English society, many people decided to immigrate to the colonies. Families left for Ireland, North America, and Australia in enormous numbers, traveling at high cost in extremely inhospitable conditions. The New World in particular was a desirable destination, but the long voyage caused many to arrive sick and starving. Those who made it, though, were welcomed by opportunities far greater than they had known at home in England. Many of these families went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Houghtan or a variant listed above: Gerard Haughton settled in Barbados in 1639; Thomas Haughton settled in Virginia in 1635; as well as Robert Haughton in the same year.

The Houghtan 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: Malgre le tort
Motto Translation: Despite the wrong.

Citations +

Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
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)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print