| ![Show Contents]() Wenton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Etymology of WentonWhat does the name Wenton mean? The surname Wenton was a nickname for someone who was "merry," derived from the Middle English word "wanton." 1 Early Origins of the Wenton familyThe surname Wenton was first found in Lincolnshire where William Wantoun was listed in the Assize Rolls for 1298. Later, we found Stephen Wantoun listed in the Assize Rolls for Norfolk in 1312. 1 Further to the north in Scotland, the Wenton spelling prevailed. "Ingeram de Wenton and Thomas de Wenton were jurors at a court held at Le Bellocis Hill near Inverness, 1376-1367 (Innes Family, p. 63). Thomas Wentoun of Strikmertene, [was] a charter witness at Dudhope, 1609." 2 Early History of the Wenton familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wenton research. Another 93 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1455, 1487, 1568 and 1603 are included under the topic Early Wenton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Wenton Spelling VariationsOne relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Wenton has appeared include Wantron, Wonton, Wanton, Wantown, Wantoon, Wantune, Wandon, Wand, Want and many more. Early Notables of the Wenton familyMore information is included under the topic Early Wenton Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Wenton migration to the United States | + |
At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Wenton arrived in North America very early:
Wenton Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- Edward Wenton, who arrived in Maryland in 1665 3
- Peter Wenton, who landed in Maryland in 1665 3
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
- Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
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