Streeton is one of the many names that the
Normans brought with them when they conquered
England in 1066. The Streeton family lived in
Wiltshire, at
Stratton. However, there are also parishes in
Cornwall,
Dorset,
Gloucestershire,
Norfolk,
Buckinghamshire,
Hampshire, and
Somerset also named Stratton.
The reason for the many parishes so named is because of the etymology of the surname as in "one who came from Stratton (homestead on a Roman road.)" [1]CITATION[CLOSE]
Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York, Harper & Row, 1956. Print However down in Cornwall, in Cornish the name literally means "the hill full of fresh springs." [2]CITATION[CLOSE]
Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
Early Origins of the Streeton family
The surname Streeton was first found in
Wiltshire where they held a
family seat from very early times and were granted lands by Duke William of
Normandy, their liege Lord, for their distinguished assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D. Where it is said that the notorious Adam de Stratton derives from Argouges from Manche in the arrondisement of Avranches in Normandy.
Adam de Stratton (died 1292) was a royal moneylender, administrator and clergyman under Edward I of England. He rose to become Chamberlain of the Exchequer and steward of Isabella, Countess of Devon. His father was Thomas de Argoges, or Arwillis, of Stratton St Margaret in Wiltshire. In 1278, he was accused of cutting off the seal of a charter from Quarr Abbey, thereby invalidating its authenticity. This was not the beginning nor the last time he would be associated with dubious activities. On 17 January 1290, he was relieved of his office of chamberlain, along with his temporal possessions. Upon his arrest, he was discovered to have in his possession a vast sum of money and objects associated with witchcraft. He was imprisoned in the Tower of London in 1292 and died by 14 August 1294.
Early History of the Streeton family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Streeton research.
Another 291 words (21 lines of text) covering the years 1285, 1320 and 1364 are included under the topic Early Streeton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Streeton Spelling Variations
Anglo-Norman names tend to be marked by an enormous number of
spelling variations. This is largely due to the fact that Old and Middle English lacked any spelling rules when Norman French was introduced in the 11th century. The languages of the English courts at that time were French and Latin. These various languages mixed quite freely in the evolving social milieu. The final element of this mix is that medieval scribes spelled words according to their sounds rather than any definite rules, so a name was often spelled in as many different ways as the number of documents it appeared in. The name was spelled Stratton, Straton, Straiton and others.
Early Notables of the Streeton family (pre 1700)
More information is included under the topic Early Streeton Notables in all our
PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Streeton family to Ireland
Some of the Streeton family moved to
Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 74 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Streeton family to the New World and Oceana
Because of the political and religious discontent in
England, families began to migrate abroad in enormous numbers. Faced with persecution and starvation at home, the open frontiers and generally less oppressive social environment of the New World seemed tantalizing indeed to many English people. The trip was difficult, and not all made it unscathed, but many of those who did get to Canada and the United States made important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers with Streeton name or one of its variants: John Straton who settled in Virginia in 1670; J. Straton settled in San Francisco, Cal. in 1852; Henry Stratton settled in Virginia in 1641; followed by Alice Stratton settled in Virginia in 1652.
Contemporary Notables of the name Streeton (post 1700)
- Jonathan Streeton, American actor, known for Cannonball Run: Italy or Bust (2006)
- Deven Streeton, American actress, known for Halloween (2007), A Mother's Choice (2010) and A Mother's Choice: The Ultimatum (2012)
- Arthur Ernest Streeton (1867-1943), Australian landscape painter
The Streeton Motto
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Resurgere tento
Motto Translation: I strive to rise again.