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]

Early History of the Walton family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Walton research.

Walton 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 Walton include Walton, Waltone and others.

Early Notables of the Walton family (pre 1700)

Notables of this surname at this time include: Sir Thomas Walton, British Knight who bravely fought at the Combat of the Thirty on March 26th, 1351. Another Sir Thomas Walton (1370?-1437?), was Speaker of the House of Commons, born probably about 1370, was son of John de Walton of Great Staughton, Huntingdonshire. [2] John Walton (fl. 1410), was an English poet and another John Walton (d. 1490?) was Archbishop of Dublin. Izaak Walton (1593-1683), was an English writer, best known as the author of The Compleat (Complete) Angler. Brian Walton (1600-1661), was an English cleric and scholar.

Walton World Ranking

In the United States, the name Walton is the 378^th most popular surname with an estimated 74,610 people with that name. [3] However, in Canada, the name Walton is ranked the 905^thmost popular surname with an estimated 5,947 people with that name. [4] And in Australia, the name Walton is the 427^th popular surname with an estimated 8,743 people with that name. [5]New Zealand ranks Walton as 456^th with 1,522 people. [6] The United Kingdom ranks Walton as 200^th with 28,593 people. [7]

 Migration of the Walton family to Ireland

Some of the Walton family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.

 Walton migration to the United States +

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: 

Walton Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• John Walton, aged 28, who settled in Virginia in 1621 aboard the ship “Elizabeth”
• William Walton, who settled in Marblehead, Massachusetts in 1630
• Daniel Walton who settled in Virginia in 1635
• Robert, Geoffrey, George, Margaret Walton, all, who settled in Virginia in 1635
• William Walton, who landed in Hingham, Massachusetts in 1635 [8]

Walton Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Henry Walton, who arrived in Virginia in 1704 [8]
• Samuel Walton, who arrived in Virginia in 1710 [8]
• Margeratt Walton, aged 25, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1732 [8]

Walton Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• George Walton, aged 30, who arrived in New York in 1800 [8]
• Charles Walton, aged 28, who arrived in New York in 1812 [8]
• Georgette Walton, who landed in New York in 1822 [8]
• Jacob Walton, who landed in New York in 1822 [8]
• Mary Ann Walton, who arrived in New York in 1822 [8]

Walton Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

• Maurice Walton, who landed in Arkansas in 1904 [8]
• Morris Walton, who landed in Arkansas in 1904 [8]

 Walton migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were: 

Walton Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

• Thomas Walton, who settled in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1775
• Mr. Jesse Walton U.E. who settled in Bell Vue, Beaver Harbor, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1783 listed as a Quaker [9]
• Mr. Jesse Walton U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 [9]

Walton Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• John Walton, aged 24, a farmer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig “Matilda” from Cork, Ireland
• S. Walton, aged 38, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig “Charlotte” from Cork, Ireland

Walton Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

• Edgar Walton, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1907

 Walton migration to Australia+

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: 

Walton Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Mr. Charles Walton, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life, transported aboard the “Fame” on 9th October 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia[10]
• Mr. Joseph Walton, English convict who was convicted in Chester, Cheshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the “Dromedary” on 11th September 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen’s Land) [11]
• Mr. Thomas Walton, English convict who was convicted in Chester, Cheshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the “Dromedary” on 11th September 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen’s Land) [11]
• Mr. William Walton, (b. 1782), aged 37, English carpenter who was convicted in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England for life for house breaking, transported aboard the “Dromedary” on 11th September 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen’s Land), he died in 1857 [11]
• Mr. Samuel Walton, (b. 1802), aged 18, English stable boy who was convicted in Hertfordshire, England for 7 years for larceny, transported aboard the “Dick” on 2nd October 1820, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1856 [12]

 Walton migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include: 

Walton Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• Ann Walton, aged 27, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship “Oriental” in 1840
• Mrs. Ann Walton, (b. 1812), aged 27, British settler travelling from London with a child aboard the ship “Oriental” arriving in Port Nicholson, Wellington, New Zealand on 31st January 1840 [13]
• Mr. Walton, Australian settler travelling from Sydney aboard the ship “Earl of Lonsdale” arriving in Bay of Islands, North Island, New Zealand on 11th April 1841 [14]
• James Walton, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1843 aboard the ship Ursula
• J Walton, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1844

 Walton migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960’s many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. [15]

Walton Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

• Mr. William Walton, (b. 1612), aged 22, British settler travelling from London, UK arriving in St Christopher (St. Kitts) on 5th January 1634 [8]
• Mr. Richard Walton, aged 21, British settler travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship “Hopewell” arriving in Barbados on 17th February 1634 [8]
• William Walton, who settled in Barbados in 1678

Contemporary Notables of the name Walton (post 1700) +

• Samuel Moore “Sam” Walton (1918-1992), American businessman and entrepreneur, founder of Walmart and Sam’s Club, recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
• Sidney Walton (1919-2021), United States Army World War II veteran, one of four surviving World War II veterans who participated in the coin flip for Super Bowl LIV
• Joseph Frank “Joe” Walton (1935-2021), American football player and coach who retired after 20 years as the head coach and creator of the football program at Robert Morris University
• Daniel James “Danny” Walton (1947-2017), American Major League Baseball outfielder who played from 1968 to 1980
• Cedar Anthony Walton Jr. (1934-2013), American hard bop jazz pianist
• S. Robson Walton (b. 1945), American lawyer and Wal-Mart heir, Chairman of the Board
• Alice Walton (b. 1949), American heiress, daughter of Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton
• George Walton (1741-1804), American signer of Declaration of Independence
• Roy Walton (1932-2020), English-born, Scottish card magic expert
• Sir John Nicholas Walton (1922-2016), Baron Walton of Detchant, English neuroscientist and life peer