Middelton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

The Anglo-Saxon name Middelton comes from when the family resided in one of the many places called Middleton throughout England. "There are several dozen places, larger or smaller, scattered up and down England of this name." 1

The surname Middelton belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Middelton family

The surname Middelton was first found in one of the many villages named Middleton throughout Britain. One of the earlies records of the name was Robert de Mideltone who was listed in 1166 in Eynsham, Oxfordshire. 2

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list: Richard de Middleton in Buckinghamshire; Thomas de Middelton in Lincolnshire; and Gilbert de Middleton in Yorkshire. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls revealed: Johannes de Midillton; Thomas de Midilton; and Ricardus de Midilton. 1 The Subsidy Rolls of Sussex list William de Midelton in 1327 and The Feet of Fines of Warwickshire list John Middilton (1409-1410.) 2 John de Middleton was vicar of St Mary's Church, Ottery St Mary, Devon in 1297.

Middleton, Warwickshire is a parish in the union of Tamworth. "the Moxhall estate, is the property of Lord Middleton. Middleton Hall, a seat of Lord Middleton's, is an ancient moated mansion, finely situated, and surrounded by an extensive park. " 3

The name was quick to appear further north in Scotland where "the first of the name recorded appears to have been Umfridus de Midilton who witnessed a grant of the lands of Petmengartenach to the Abbey of Arbroath in 1221. " 4 A few years later, Humfrey de Middiltone of the county of Kincardyn rendered homage to King Edward I in 1296. Robert Middleton was a defender of Dunbar Castle against the English in 1296, he was taken prisoner by King Edward I of England. "For about three centuries the family here bore the designation of Middleton of that Ilk." 4

Early History of the Middelton family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Middelton research. Another 153 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1200, 1357, 1488, 1550, 1556, 1580, 1586, 1589, 1608, 1614, 1624, 1627, 1629, 1631, 1636, 1640, 1649, 1651, 1655, 1660, 1662, 1663, 1666, 1673, 1679, 1681, 1682, 1684, 1685, 1705, 1716 and 1719 are included under the topic Early Middelton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Middelton Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Middelton has been recorded under many different variations, including Middleton, Middelton, Midleton and others.

Early Notables of the Middelton family

Notables of the family at this time include Thomas Middleton, Sheriff of York; his daughter Margaret (circa 1556-1586), Catholic martyr, who was canonized St. Margaret Clitherow; Thomas Middleton (1580-1627), English playwright; Sir Thomas Myddelton of Chirk Castle (1586-1666), a Welsh politician and Parliamentary general; John Middleton (c.1608-1673), 1st Earl of Middleton; John Middleton (died 1636), an English landowner and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1614 and 1629; Thomas Middleton (1589-c.1662), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1640 and 1660, supporter of the Parliamentarian side in the English Civil War; Hugh Middleton, Commander...
Another 134 words (10 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Middelton Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Middelton family

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Middelton or a variant listed above: Antony Middleton, who settled in Virginia in 1623; Catherine Middleton, who came to Virginia in 1647; Charles Middleton, who arrived in Virginia in 1633.

Citations +

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)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
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)