Walton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Anglo-Saxon name Walton comes from when the family resided in one of the many places called Walton found throughout England. The surname Walton belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Walton family

The surname Walton was first found in Somerset at Walton-In-Gordano, a parish, in the union of Bedminster, hundred of Portbury. “This manor was owned by Ralph de Mortimer, kinsman of William the Conqueror; some of his family were earls of March, and under them the manor was held for several generations by Richard de Walton and his descendants.” 1

However, some of the family also held estates at Walton-On-The-Hill in Lancashire from early times. “In the time of Edward the Confessor, Winestan, a Saxon, held Waletone; and soon after the Conquest a family named Waleton or Walton is mentioned as having possessions here. By a charter of the 2nd of John, the king granted all his land in Waleton to Richard de Mida, son of Gilbert de Waleton; and the same family is named in connexion with various legal acts in subsequent reigns. In the 15th century, Roger Walton died without male issue, and his two daughters carried their inheritance to their husbands.” 1

Simon de Wauton, Watton, Walton or Walthone (d. 1266), Bishop of Norwich was probably a native of Walton d’Eiville, Warwickshire and was “one of the clerks of King John, and received from him the church of St. Andrew, Hastings, on 9 April 1206, and two other livings in the two following years.” 2