Staynton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The ancestors of the bearers of the Staynton family name are thought have lived in ancient Anglo-Saxon England. They were first found in the village of Stainton found in the counties of Cumberland, Durham, Lincolnshire, Lancashire, Westmorland, West Riding of Yorkshire and the North Riding of Yorkshire. 1

The Yorkshire and Lincolnshire parishes both appear in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Stanton and Staintone, respectively. 2

Early Origins of the Staynton family

The surname Staynton was first found in Yorkshire but was a frequent name in the north of England as it was derived from the Old English word "stan" which meant "farmstead on stony ground." 3

In Lincolnshire, a strong early presence of the family was found, beginning with Hugh de Staintone, who was a Knights Templar there in 1185. 4 And the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 had two early spellings for the name, both in Lincolnshire: Herbert de Staynton; and Robert de Staynton. 1

In Yorkshire, Margaret de Staynton was listed there in 1277 4 and the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls included: Thomas de Staynton; and Juliana de Staynton. 1

Early History of the Staynton family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Staynton research. Another 108 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1135, 1395 and 1804 are included under the topic Early Staynton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Staynton Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Staynton include Stainton, Staneton and others.

Early Notables of the Staynton family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

Simon Staynton (?-1395), Prebendary Of Nesden, Dean and Chapter of St Paul's, London

Migration of the Staynton family

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Staynton or a variant listed above: Adam Stainton who settled in Maryland in 1739.

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)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
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)