Show ContentsKurton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Kurton Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Kurton

What does the name Kurton mean?

The origins of the Kurton name lie with England's ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It comes from when the family lived in the region of Kirkton which referred to site where a church was in Berkshire. Kurton is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. Habitation names form the other broad category of surnames that were derived from place-names. They were derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. Other local names are derived from the names of houses, manors, estates, regions, and entire counties.

Early Origins of the Kurton family

The surname Kurton was first found in Lincolnshire where "the Kirketons, ennobled by the title of Baron by Edward III., derived their name and title from Kirkton, now Kirton." 1 One of the earliest records of the family was that of Edmund Kirkton (d. 1466), the English prelate and Abbot of Westminister.

Further to the north in Scotland, "this surname appears in several records in different parts of the country and as the place name is common it is possible that persons bearing this surname are of different origin. Wilham de Kirketon appears as witness in Aberdeen in 1243. Adam de Kirketone of the county of Edneburk rendered homage in 1296." 2

Early History of the Kurton family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kurton research. Another 111 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1270, 1296, 1466, 1620, 1674, 1676 and 1699 are included under the topic Early Kurton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kurton Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Kurton were recorded, including Kirton, Kirkton, Kirtman and others.

Early Notables of the Kurton family

Edmund Kirton (d. 1466), English divine, Abbot of Westminster. He belonged to the old family of Cobbledick, but took the name Kirton, probably from the village he was born. His tomb is in St. Andrew's Chapel, Westminster Abbey. James Kirkton...
Another 40 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Kurton Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Kurton family

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Kurton family emigrate to North America: Phillip and Sarah Kirton settled in Barbados in 1680 with their servants; William Kirton settled in Barbados in 1673; Anthony Kirton settled in New England in 1769..
  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)

Houseofnames.com on Facebook