Show ContentsIltown History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Iltown is part of the ancient legacy of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is a product of when the family lived in the parish of Hilton found in several locations including Derby, Dorset, Durham, Staffordshire and the North Riding of Yorkshire. The surname Iltown is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill. In this case the original bearers of the surname Iltown lived in the hill-town.

Early Origins of the Iltown family

The surname Iltown was first found in Durham, now in the area of Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, England where one of the first records of the name was Robert Hylton, 1st Baron Hylton (d. 1322.) His son, Alexander, was called to Parliament in 1332 and 1335. This first line of Barons Hylton continued for 424 years ending with John Hylton, the 18th Baron Hylton (1699-1746.)

Walter Hilton (d. 1396), was a religious writer and Canon of the house of Augustinian canons at Thurgarton in Nottinghamshire. 1

Hylton Castle is now a ruined stone castle in the North Hylton and is owned by English Heritage. "It was the residence of the Hyltons from the time of King Athelstan to the year 1746, and the building has the arms of that ancient family and its alliances engraven on it in numerous places; its battlements are ornamented with statues, and its corners with circular turrets." 2

Early History of the Iltown family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Iltown research. Another 129 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1100, 1295, 1296, 1322, 1340, 1356, 1360, 1377, 1385, 1396, 1400, 1435, 1447, 1451, 1457, 1500, 1532, 1535, 1560, 1599, 1609 and 1657 are included under the topic Early Iltown History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Iltown Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Iltown has been spelled many different ways, including Hilton, Hylton and others.

Early Notables of the Iltown family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Robert Hylton, 1st Baron Hylton (d. 1322); Alexander Hylton, 2nd Baron Hylton (d. 1360); Robert Hylton, de jure 3rd Baron Hylton (1340-1377); Sir William Hylton, de jure 4th Baron Hylton (1356-1435); Sir Robert Hylton, de jure 5th Baron Hylton (1385-1447); William Hylton, de jure 6th Baron Hylton...
Another 54 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Iltown Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Iltown family to Ireland

Some of the Iltown family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Iltown family

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Iltowns to arrive in North America: Hugh Hilton, who settled in Virginia in 1619, a year before the " Mayflower"; Mary Hilton settled in Plymouth Massachusetts in 1623; William Hilton settled in Plymouth with his wife and two children in 1623..



  1. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.


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