Surname Huntington - Meaning and Origin

Huntington: What does the surname Huntington mean?

The surname Huntington is of English origin and derives from a habitation name for someone originally from any of several places named Huntington or Huntingdon in England. The name is composed of two Old English elements: “hunting” and “dun”. "Hunting" means "hunt" and "dun" translates to "hill". Therefore, the surname Huntington can be interpreted as "hill for hunting" or "hunt hill". It signifies the geographical location where the person's ancestors lived, and suggests they may have lived near a hill where hunting occurred. The name became popular in the United States when Collis P. Huntington, a railroad tycoon, founded the city of Huntington in West Virginia. The name is also associated with Huntington's disease, a genetic disorder named after the American physician George Huntington who described it in the 19th century. Notably, the name has variations including Huntingdon, Huntindon, and Huntinton.

Huntington: Where does the name Huntington come from?

The surname Huntington is of Anglo-Saxon origin, deriving from the ancient English place-name "Huntington" or "Huntingdon". The name is a combination of the Old English elements “hunting”, meaning hunting or a hunt, and “dun”, meaning hill or settlement, thus translating to "settlement used for hunting" or "hunter's settlement". It was typically given to someone who hailed from a place of this name.

The Huntington surname was first found in Yorkshire, England where the Huntingdon family held a family seat from early times. Notably, Simon de Huntingdon registered in the Domesday Book in 1086.

Today, the surname is common in English-speaking countries, including the United States, Canada, England, and Australia. In the U.S, the name is particularly prevalent in the Northeastern states such as Maine and Vermont.

It is also a notable family name in U.S history, with figures such as Collis P. Huntington, a famous businessman and one of the “Big Four” who built the Central Pacific Railroad, contributing to its prominence. The city of Huntington, West Virginia, was even named after him.

Variations of the surname Huntington

The surname Huntington, primarily of English origin, can have several variants and spellings, determined by regional dialects, phonetics, translations and migrational misinterpretations. The surname's root originates from an Old English term, "Huntingtun," which means "the hunting farm" or "the hunter's settlement."

Potential variations include Hunnington, Hunington, Huntngdon, and Huntingdon, all of which maintain the original elements of the name but alter phonetic elements. Historically, some variations like Huntingdone and de Huntingdone have also been observed. The surname has at times may have also been Anglicized or Americanized, leading to slight or significant alterations of the original version, with examples such as Huntan, Hunton or even Hunt.

Similar surnames may also share some origin with Huntington due to linguistic and regional overlaps. These could include names such as Hunting, Huntley, Hunton or Hutton.

It's important to remember that misspellings may arise when documents were manually copied in the past, or during the recording of oral information. However, these variations, intentional or not, have contributed to the richness and diversity of the genealogical landscape today.

Famous people with the name Huntington

• Collis Potter Huntington (American railroad tycoon)
• Archer Milton Huntington (American art collector and philanthropist)
• Helen Huntington Hull (Philanthropist)
• Henry E. Huntington (American railroad executive)
• Solon Huntington (American entrepreneur)
• George Huntington (American physician)
• Ellin Klorfine Huntington (American philanthropist)
• Peggy Huntington (American actress)
• Thomas Huntington (American politician)
• Samuel Huntington (American statesman)
• Bill Huntington (Canadian professional wrestler)
• Henry Parkes Huntington (Australian lawyer and politician)
• Frederic Delano Huntington (American businessman, artist, and collector)
• Miles Huntington (American architect)
• Moses Burnet Huntington (American architect)
• Charles Huntington (American architect)
• Robert Huntington (American politician and delegate to the Continental Congress)
• John William Huntington (American industrialist, financier, and art collector)
• Elijah Huntington (American railroad businessman)
• DeWitt Clinton Huntington (American diplomat)

Other surnames

HuntingHüntingHuntingdon