Surname Huntingdon - Meaning and Origin

Huntingdon: What does the surname Huntingdon mean?

The surname Huntingdon is of English origin, derived from a place name in Cambridgeshire, England. The name has two parts: 'Hunting' and 'Don'. The 'Hunting' part comes from the Old English 'hunta', which means hunter. The 'Don' part is derived from 'dun' in Old English, which means hill. So, the name essentially means 'hunter's hill'. However, there is a speculation that it may have been named after a leader or significant figure with the name 'Hunta'.

The city of Huntingdon in England was established by the Anglo-Saxons and used as a strategic location for transportation and trade. The surname was likely given to individuals who hailed from there. Usage of the surname Huntingdon has been noted as early as the 12th century, often associated with nobility. Figures known for bearing this name include David of Huntingdon, who was a Scottish prince, and Henry of Huntingdon, an important 12th-century historian.

Therefore, the last name Huntingdon carries a sense of nobility, historical significance and a connection to the ancient profession of hunting and the strategic and picturesque location of Huntingdon, England.

Huntingdon: Where does the name Huntingdon come from?

The last name Huntingdon originates from England. Specifically, it is taken from the name of the town of Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire. This surname, like many other place-based surnames, was likely first used as a way to identify individuals who came from Huntingdon town.

The name Huntingdon means "hunting hill" or "hunter's hill", derived from the Old English words "hunta" (hunter) and "dun" (hill). The town was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Huntandone," so it's likely that it became a surname soon after this time.

Today, the surname Huntingdon is not particularly common, but it can still be found in England and other countries. There has been a migration of people from Britain to various parts of the world over the centuries, so the name may also be found in places like the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It's not one of the most common surnames in any of these places, but it does appear occasionally.

Variations of the surname Huntingdon

The surname Huntingdon primarily originates from the Anglo-Saxon era, representing a geographic name given to someone from the town of Huntingdon in England. Variations in spelling and other related surnames might include Huntington, Huntigdon, Huntingtun, Hountington, Huntingten, Huntingdun, and Huntingtone.

The different spellings usually arose from a combination of dialectal differences, lack of literacy, and transcription errors by clerks who would phonetically record the name. Over time, these variations became established as separate forms of the name. Leaders and notable figures with this name such as Henry of Huntingdon, a 12th-century historian, could have also influenced its popular variants.

Regionally, depending on where the family name migrated, some variants may be more typical. For example, in Scotland or Ireland, an 'e' at the end, as in Huntingdone might be more common, while a 'u' in place of the 'o', as in Huntingdun might be more usual in parts of north England.

Further alterations of the surname might include prefixes or suffixes based on descriptors or occupations, like 'de Huntingdon' or 'Huntingdon-Smith'.

Famous people with the name Huntingdon

• Selina Hastings, Countess of Huntingdon: a British author and biographer
• Sydney Huntingdon: a former American professional baseball player
• Alice Huntingdon-Smith: a British soprano and recipient of the Queen's Medal for Music
• David Huntingdon: a British Conservative historian
• Edith Huntingdon: an American novelist
• Oliver Huntington: an American journalist and founder of Huntington National Bank
• William Huntington: an English theologian and Christian author
• Eleanor Huntingdon: an American suffragist and temperance advocate
• Sarah Huntingdon: an English nonconformist hymn-writer
• Alan Huntingdon: a Canadian professional hockey player
• Lady Anne Huntingdon: an English poet and playwright
• Harry Huntingdon: an English film producer
• Charlie Huntingdon: a British actor
• George Huntingdon: a Canadian soldier and politician
• Arthur Huntingdon: an English composer and organist
• Agnes Huntingdon: an American children's author
• Baron Huntingdon: an English peer and politician

Other surnames

HuntingHüntingHuntington