Contents [hide]

Layton History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Layton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The name Layton is an old Anglo-Saxon name. It comes from when a family lived in the place called Leighton which had various locations in England including Huntingdon, Salop (Shropshire), Bedford, North Riding of Yorkshire and Cheshire. This Habitation name was originally derived from the Old English word Leac-tun, which referred to the homestead where leeks were grown.

Leyton is an area of north-east London, part of the London Borough of Waltham Forest in Essex. In this case, the name means "settlement on the River Lea" and was also known until 1921 as "Low Leyton" and also included Leytonstone. It dates back to the Domesday Book, when it was called Leintun at that time. 1

Early Origins of the Layton family

The surname Layton was first found in Shropshire, where "the Leightons are stated to have been seated at Leighton in this county prior to the Conquest: Domesday has 'Rainald (vicecom') ten' Lestone; Leuui tenuit temp. Reg. Edw.' Hence there can be no doubt the name Lestone, i.e. Lewi's-town, now Leighton was derived. " 2

Today Leighton is named Leighton and Eaton Constantine. Later in Huntingdon, Roger de Leyton and Clement de Leyton were listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. The same rolls listed Henry de Leyton in Buckinghamshire. 3

As one would expect, Leighton in Cheshire was at one time held by the family. "At the time of the Domesday Survey this place belonged to Robert de Rodelent, after whose death it was given to the barons of Montalt, of whom it was held by the Leighton family." 4 Today Leaton is a small village in the parish of Pimhill in Shropshire.

Early History of the Layton family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Layton research. Another 170 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1391, 1525, 1530, 1549, 1565, 1570, 1591, 1593, 1609, 1610, 1611, 1614, 1622, 1653, 1661, 1662, 1671, 1674, 1684, 1693, 1705 and 1797 are included under the topic Early Layton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Layton 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 Layton were recorded, including Leighton, Layton, Laton and others.

Early Notables of the Layton family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

Francis Layton (died 1661) of Rawdon, West Riding of Yorkshire, one of the masters of the jewel-house to Charles I and Charles II

Layton Ranking

In the United States, the name Layton is the 2,175^th most popular surname with an estimated 14,922 people with that name. 5

Migration of the Layton family to Ireland

Some of the Layton family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 30 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Layton migration to the United States +

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 Layton family emigrate to North America:

Layton Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Elizabeth Layton, who landed in Virginia in 1636 6
William Layton, who arrived in Virginia in 1636 6
Thomas Layton, who arrived in Lynn, Massachusetts in 1638 6
John Layton, who arrived in Virginia in 1658 6
Katherine Layton, who arrived in Maryland in 1664 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Layton Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Hugh Layton, who landed in Virginia in 1705 6

Layton Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Robert Layton, aged 27, who landed in Louisiana in 1812 6
Jose M Layton, aged 24, who landed in New Orleans, La in 1827 6
Manuel Ma Layton, aged 33, who landed in New Orleans, La in 1829 6
I S Layton, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1849 6
Jordan Layton, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1850 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Layton migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Layton Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Frances Layton, aged 29, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1774
John Layton, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1774
John Layton, aged 22, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1774
Mr. James Layton U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 7

Layton migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Layton Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

Mr. Jonathan Layton, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Barwell" in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 8

Layton Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. William Layton, British convict who was convicted in London, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "England" on 6th June 1835, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
Miss. Mary Layton, English convict who was convicted in Clerkenwell, London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Baretto Junior" on 5th April 1850, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 10
Thomas Layton, aged 27, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1856 aboard the ship "Lord Raglan" 11

Layton migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Layton Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Henry Layton, aged 21, a fireman, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Douglas" in 1873

Layton migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 12

Layton Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Mr. Edward Layton, (b. 1604), aged 30, British settler travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "Hopewell" arriving in Barbados on 17th February 1634 6

Contemporary Notables of the name Layton (post 1700) +

William A. Layton, American politician, Representative from New York, 1886 (1st District), 1904 (17th District) 13
W. V. M. Layton, American politician, Delegate to Ohio State Constitutional Convention from Auglaize County, 1873 13
Thomas B. L. Layton, American politician, U.S. Consul in Tahiti, 1916-19; Casablanca, 1920-21 13
Susan Layton, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Pennsylvania, 2008 13
S. Le Roy Layton, American politician, U.S. Vice Consul in Cienfuegos, 1916 13
L. Layton, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Governor of Delaware, 1932 13
Landreth L. Layton, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Delaware, 1908 13
John H. Layton, American Republican politician, Candidate for Maryland State Senate District 13-E, 1970 13
James J. Layton, American politician, Mayor of Layton, Utah; Elected 1989 13
H. L. Layton, American politician, Member of Georgia State Senate, 1950 13
... (Another 19 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Layton family +

HMS Hood

Mr. Sidney G Layton (b. 1921), English Marine serving for the Royal Marine from Peterborough, Northamptonshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 14

St. Francis Dam

Mr. Clayton Webster Layton, American resident in Santa Clarita killed when the St. Francis Dam failed and flooded the area in 1928

Citations +

Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, 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)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barwell
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th April 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/england
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baretto-junior
South Australian Register Friday February 7th, 1856. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Lord Raglan 1856. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/lordraglan1856.shtml
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 28) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm