Peyton
An English surname that usually came from a place name meaning “Pæga’s estate” or from a local place called Peyton.
The #3,477 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 30,045 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Peyton is generally explained as a locational surname from an English place name. One common interpretation is Old English *Pæga’s tūn*, meaning “Pæga’s estate” or “Pæga’s farm.” In some historical sources, the surname is also tied to places called Peyton in Devon or Suffolk, so the name was first taken by people who came from or held land there.
History
The surname appears in medieval records in forms such as de Peyton, showing its origin as a territorial or landed name. Historical notes in older surname books link the family especially with Suffolk, and later branches appear in other counties. Spelling variants such as Payton reflect the same name and pronunciation in many cases.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Older genealogical works sometimes Latinized the name in medieval charters, which is why it can appear in forms quite unlike the modern spelling.
From the historical record
“PEWTRESS, the fern, form of Pewtrer, q.v. PEYTON (Eng:) Bel. to Peyton : v. Payton. PHARAOH I normally an imit. form of Farrow PHAROAH • (q.v.) ; rarely a borrovying of the PHARO J Egyptian regal title i^araoft [cp., O.Egyptian Pr-o, 'great (or royal) house'] " In the New Kingdom it [Pr-'o\ became at once personal…”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)