Northampton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Northampton

What does the name Northampton mean?

The Northampton surname is derived from the Middle English words "north" and "toun," meaning "town." It may have originally been a topographic name for someone living to the north of a main settlement, or a habitational name from any of several places named with this phrase, such as Norrington in Wiltshire. 1

Early Origins and Etymology of Northampton

The surname Northampton was first found in Hertfordshire at Norrington End Farm, Redbourn. This was the home to Alice de Northington in 1296, the first person on record for the family. Northington dates back to Saxon times when it was originally known as Northametone in 903. The place name literally means "farmstead of the dwellers to the north." 1 Alternatively, the family may have originated at Northingtown Fm in Grimley, near Worcester. 2 It was here that Robert de Norinton in 1275, was listed in the Subsidy Rolls.

The family may have derived their name from Norrington in Wiltshire about the year 1200 but we find no record of an individual from that county.

Early History of the Northampton family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Northampton research. Another 89 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Northampton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Northampton Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Norrinton, Norrington, Norington, Norinton, Norwington and many more.

Early Notables of the Northampton family

More information is included under the topic Early Northampton Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Northampton family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Alice Norrington, who came to Virginia in 1665; John Norrington, who arrived in Maryland in 1681; William Norrington, who arrived in Virginia in 1697; and Thomas Norrington, who came to America in 1769..

Contemporary Notables of the name Northampton (post 1700) +

John Northampton, reformist Lord Mayor of London in the 1380s

Sources +

Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)