Show ContentsSuiton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Norman Conquest of England in 1066 added many new elements to an already vibrant culture. Among these were thousands of new names. The Suiton family lived in Somerset, at Sutton Montague.

Early Origins of the Suiton family

The surname Suiton was first found in Nottinghamshire where they were descended from Dreu de Montaigu who came into England at the Norman Conquest in 1066 A.D. in the train of the Count of Mortain. His first seat was at Sutton Montague in Somerset, and the family later acquired Sutton upon Trent near Tuxford in Nottingham, where they became Lords of the manor and the Barons Dudley.

"Sutton-upon-Trent gave name to this ancient family, the first upon record being Roland, son of Hervey, who lived in the reign of Henry III., and married Alice, daughter and coheiress of Richard de Lexington." [1]

There are countless listings of the place name throughout Britain in the Domesday Book with various spellings due to the literal meaning of the name "south farmstead or village." [2] The parish Averham in Nottinghamshire was an ancient family seat.

"At the time of the siege of Newark, many skirmishes occurred here; and in 1644, the ancient manor-house, then belonging to Robert Sutton, Lord Lexington and Baron of Averham, and which had been the residence of the family from 1250, was destroyed." [3]

However, the church in Averham and Kelham still hold many relics and several ancient memorials to the Suttons. Some of the church windows date back to 1220. On the south wall is a mural monument, adorned with cherubs and armorial bearings, to the memory of the Right Hon. Robert Lord Lexington, having descended from "ye ancient family of ye Suttons." [3]

Kelham Hall has been the present family seat since it was built in the 1860s.

Early History of the Suiton family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Suiton research. Another 98 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1310, 1342, 1359, 1380, 1381, 1382, 1383, 1384, 1385, 1386, 1388, 1391, 1394, 1397, 1399, 1400, 1401, 1406, 1414, 1425, 1428, 1440, 1460, 1483, 1487, 1532, 1594, 1625, 1640 and 1668 are included under the topic Early Suiton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Suiton Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Sutton, Suton, Suttone and others.

Early Notables of the Suiton family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Robert Sutton (died 1414), of Lincoln, Lincolnshire, an English politician, one of the wealthiest and most influential merchants in Lincoln, a Member (MP) of the Parliament of England for Lincoln in 1381, 1382, 1383, 1384, 1385, 1386, 1388, 1391, 1394, 1397 and 1399, brother, John Sutton, was also an MP for Lincoln, as was his son, Hamon Sutton; Hervey of Sutton, first Lord of Sutton upon Trent; John Sutton (1400-1487), 1st Baron Dudley, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland from 1428-30 and Member of Parliament from 1440 to 1487; as well as his son, Sir...
Another 122 words (9 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Suiton Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Suiton family to Ireland

Some of the Suiton family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 58 words (4 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 Suiton family

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Suiton or a variant listed above: Ambrose Sutton who settled in Charlestown Massachusetts in 1640; Annis Sutton settled in Virginia in 1639; Dorothy Sutton settled in Barbados in 1679.



The Suiton 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: Pour y parvenir
Motto Translation: To accomplish it.


  1. Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  3. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.


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