Show ContentsUnton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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  • England
Unton Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Unton

What does the name Unton mean?

The ancestors of the Unton surname lived among the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. The name comes from when they lived in one of the various settlements called Hunton in the counties of Hampshire, Kent, and the North Riding of Yorkshire.

Early Origins of the Unton family

The surname Unton was first found in the North Riding of Yorkshire, where one of the first records of the family was Roger of Hunton, who was listed in the Feet of Fine for 1263. A few years later, William de Hunton was recorded in 1304, again in Yorkshire. 1

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 included Roger Hunton, who held lands there at that time. 2

Early History of the Unton family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Unton research. Another 75 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1379, 1557, 1558, 1559, 1567, 1572, 1574, 1596, 1604, 1610, 1664, 1682, 1688, 1697 and 1752 are included under the topic Early Unton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Unton Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Unton include Hunton, Huntoon and others.

Early Notables of the Unton family

  • Philip Hunton (1604-1682), an English clergyman and political writer, best known for his anti-absolutist work "A Treatise of Monarchy," which was banned under the Restoration. 3
  • Sir Henry Unton or Umpton (1557?-1596) was an English diplomatist and soldier, the second son of Sir Edward Unton or Umpton of Wadley, near Faringdon, Berkshire. "The father, Sir Edward, belonged to a...
  • Philip Huntoon (c. 1664-1752) is generally thought to be progenitor of all persons in America bearing the name "Huntoon." Philip Hunton, as he was first called, signed his name (or made his mark) on 2...

Migration of the Unton family

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants: Mary Hunton, who sailed to Maryland in 1736; David Huntoon, who traveled to Belfast, Me. in 1820; W.C. Huntoon to San Francisco in 1850; J.D. Huntoon to San Francisco in 1862.
  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print

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