Talton
A surname of uncertain origin, likely a locational name from an old place-name spelling such as Tattone or Talton.
The #9,253 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 87,737 Americans shares it.
Etymology
The surname Talton appears to be from an English place-name, probably meaning "Tatta's farm/settlement" or something similar, based on medieval spellings such as Tattone and Talton. The ending likely reflects Old English -tun, "farmstead" or "enclosed settlement." The first element is less certain and may be an old personal name or nickname, but the surviving evidence does not allow a secure reconstruction.
History
The name is documented in medieval English records in forms like de Talton and similar spellings, which suggests an origin in a place-name rather than a descriptive nickname. Over time the surname settled into the modern Talton spelling, especially in England and later in the United States. Because the early forms are inconsistent, the exact source place is still uncertain.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Medieval record-keeping preserved several spellings of this surname, which is often how surname historians detect a lost or uncertain place-name origin.
From the historical record
“Andrewe de Tattone. co. SontbampcoD, RobHI de Talton, co. Cheater, iiqo : Bait Cbeihire, ii. 308, Robert de 'Tattoo, of Wytbeabavc, 1396 : ibid.”
— A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with special American instances