Surname Heiton - Meaning and Origin
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Heiton: What does the surname Heiton mean?
The last name Heiton is of Scottish origin. It is derived from the township of Hilton which is located in the parish of Keith (or possibly Hilton of Strathbogie, which is near the river Deveron in Aberdeenshire). The name is thought to be derived from the Old English elements "hyll" and "tun", meaning "hill town".
As a surname, Heiton may have referred to someone who was from Hilton, or who worked there. It could also have indicated someone who owned land in the area, or was born there. In Scotland, this name was common enough to form a family in the 15th century, with records showing the Heiton family holding a significant amount of land in Aberdeenshire during the late Middle Ages.
The Heiton surname was brought to North America during the Scottish diaspora of the 18th century. In the United States, most Heitons can be found in New England, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, and Washington, indicating that these settlers were among the first to arrive from Scotland.
In Scotland today, the Heitons are mainly fishermen and farmers, maintaining the same occupations they had before migrating to America. A number of members of the Heiton family have achieved some popularity and success, from business and political figures to professional athletes and entertainers. The Heiton name is now found throughout the world, though the ties to Scotland remain strong.
Order DNA origin analysisHeiton: Where does the name Heiton come from?
Heiton is a surname that has spread throughout Scotland, England, and even into Ireland and the United States. It is most commonly found today in Scotland and parts of northern England. As far as counties go, Heiton is particularly prevalent in Aberdeenshire as well as Angus, Perthshire, and Glasgow.
Heiton can be spelled various ways such as Heatton, Heeton, and Heitun. It is believed to have originated in the town of Higham in Lancashire, England. Its roots can be traced back to the Norman Invasion of the middle ages, and pre-14th century records have revealed it to have been a popular name amongst the aristocracy.
Today, the Heiton surname is fairly common among Scottish families, and there are relatively small numbers of people with this surname in other countries. In the US, Heiton is relatively unusual, though it has been used by some families who can trace their origin back to Scotland.
Given its popularity in Scotland, especially in the aforementioned counties, it is safe to say that the Heiton surname is most common in Scotland. It can also still be found in the United Kingdom and parts of the United States, but far less so than in Scotland and northern England.
Variations of the surname Heiton
The Heiton surname has numerous variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Heaton is the most common spelling, and other popular variants include Heyton, Heyton, and Heitun. In addition, many different spellings have arisen over time, such as Heton, Hayton, Hieton, Hiatton, Hietun, Hiton, and Hiyton.
The Heaton surname is of Norse origin, derived from a nickname for a person who lived near a center of activity or a hub of activity. This could refer to a person near a mill, a marketplace, or a priory. The suffix "ton" is derived from the old English word for settlement, which is often used to describe a village or hamlet.
In Scotland some variant spellings of the Heaton name have their own unique meaning. Hieton is derived from the Gaelic word giotalain, meaning “a stranger”, while Heyton is an anglicized spelling of the Old English pre 7th century personal name, Heahtan. In England, Hiton is derived from the pre 10th century Old English heah-tūn meaning “high, important, or dignified settlement”.
Surnames of the same origin as Heaton include the Scottish names Haeton, Hayton, Heiton, and Heytown. The English surname Hayton is derived from the Old English pre 7th century words, aet and tun, which mean “at the farmstead”. The English surname Hiatton is an anglicized form of Heiddon, a place name originating from the Welsh personal name of Heiddun.
Other related surnames include Hietall, Hilton, Heytman, Hilson, Heaton-Waren, and many more. The Heaton surname is widespread, with variant spellings found throughout Britain, Europe, and the United States. It is an Anglicisation of different Old Norse, Old English, Welsh, and Gaelic names, all of which have been derived from the same root.
Famous people with the name Heiton
- Stephen Heiton, British actor
- Ernestine Heiton, American comedian and singer
- Bill Heiton, American film and television producer
- Stanley Heiton, Canadian cinematographer
- Amber Heiton, Australian journalist
- Don Heiton, American radio personality
- Pam Heiton, American basketball coach
- Reg Heiton, English former professional footballer
- Mike Heiton, Australian actor
- Nick Heiton, American professional poker player