Byington
An English-looking surname likely formed from a place-name or an old family name built on the element “By-,” though its exact origin is uncertain.
The #9,393 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 89,156 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Byington is most likely an English surname, but its precise derivation is not well established in the older dictionaries. The name appears to have the shape of a locational surname, possibly from a lost or obscure English place-name ending in -ton, meaning “farm” or “settlement.” The first element may be an old personal name or a place-name element beginning with By-, but the available historical sources do not pin this down confidently.
History
The surname is found in Anglo-American use, including in New England in the 19th century. The limited historical references available here mention the name only in passing, not as a full etymological entry, so they do not add much certainty about its deeper origin. Today it remains relatively uncommon in the United States.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Because the name is uncommon, it often stands out in historical newspapers and local records, which is part of why it appears in old surname indexes even when no full entry is given.
From the historical record
“Roxbury. Mr. Crosston was before our Police Court, December, 1858. Massachusetts has its Judge Byington. Parton published a Life of Gen. Jackson. Mr. Huston lives at Somerville. Mr. Purrington, of Holderness, N.H., has a name asso- ciated with cats. Mr. Nettleton, of Ohio, arrived in Boston, July 12, 1859. Mr.…”
— Suffolk Surnames (3rd ed.)