Heaton
A habitational surname from several English place-names called Heaton, meaning a ‘high settlement’ or ‘enclosed farm on a hill.’
The #2,606 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 22,318 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Heaton is a surname taken from one of several English places named Heaton, especially in Yorkshire and Lancashire. The place-name is generally understood from Old English elements meaning ‘high’ or ‘heath’ plus ‘farmstead, settlement’—in other words, a settlement on elevated or heathy ground. Older surname dictionaries also note that the Lancashire place called Heaton gave rise to an early family of the name.
History
This surname appears in medieval records from northern England and later spreads with migration into Wales and beyond. Lower specifically noted an early Heaton family from Lancashire and said that the Heatons of North Wales descended from it. Because there are multiple places called Heaton, the surname may have arisen independently in more than one family line.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Several English parishes and townships called Heaton helped make this one of the more common northern habitational surnames.
From the historical record
“cashire. HEATON. A parish in co. York, and townships in cos. Lancaster, Chester, Xor- thimiberland, kc. Heaton, co. Lancaster, gave name to a family in very early times, and from them sprang the Heatons of North 'Wales. HEAVEN. HEAVENS. Cockney cor- ruptions of Evan and Evans ? HEAVER. Hever, a parish and castle in…”
— Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom