Leighton Family Crest, Coat of Arms and Name History

Leighton Origin:

England, Scotland

Origins of Leighton:

The surname of Leighton is said to be a locational surname. This means that it was often taken by the Lord or owner of the land from which the name derives. Others who may have take a locational surname are people who have migrated out of the area to seek out work. The easiest way to identify someone who was a stranger at that time was by the name of their birthplace. In the case of the surname of Leighton, the places from which the name derived were found throughout the country of England. The word itself derives from the Old English Pre 7th Century word of “leac” which can be translated to mean “a leek” and was used to describe a leek farm. The surname of Leighton is also considered to be a topographical surname. A topographical surname is used to describe someone who lived on or near a residential landmark. This landmark could be either man made or natural, and would have been easily identifiable in the area from which it hailed, thus making the people who lived near it easily distinguished. Those who were given the surname of Leighton were said to live on or near a leek farm, or someone who worked on or near a leek farm.

Variations:

More common variations are: Lleighton, Leightonn, Leightton, Lighton, Leighten, Laighton, Leightin, Lioghton, Leiton, Leightan, Leiton

History:

England:

The first recorded spelling of the surname of Leighton can be traced to the country of England. One person by the name of Richard de Lecton was mentioned in the document known as the Pipe Rolls of the county of Staffordshire in the year of 1201. This document was ordered, decreed, and written under the reign of one King John of England, who was known throughout the ages and commonly referred to as one “John the Lackland.” King John I of England ruled from the year of 1199 to the year of 1216. Other mentions of the surname of Leighton within the country of England include one Roger de Layton who was mentioned in the document known as the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdon in the year of 1276, and one William de Leton who was recorded within the document known as the Cheshire Rolls in the year of 1287. Those who bear the surname of Leighton within the country of England can be found in the areas of Shropshire, Cheshire, Huntingdon, and Bedfordshire.

Scotland:

Those who bear the surname of Leighton within the country of Scotland can be found in a high concentration within the area of Lanarkshire.

United States of America:

Within the United States of America, many European citizens began to migrate during the European Migration, which was a movement of people who were dissatisfied with their government and were in search of a better life. Among those who migrated to the United States of America, which was at that time known as the New World or the Colonies, was one Robert Leighton who arrived in the state of Virginia in the year of 1664, and who was the first recorded Leighton in America.

Here is the population distribution of the last name Leighton: United States 10,828; England 5,991; Chile 2,194; Australia 1,948; Canada 1,705; South Africa 1,479; Wales 677; Scotland 578; New Zealand 506; Jamaica 393

Notable People:

Lillianne Brown “Lillian” Leighton (1874-1956) who was a silent film actress who stared in over 200 films before she retired in the year of 1940, and who was from America.

John Atkinson Leighton (1861-1956) who was a Major League Baseball (MLB) outfielder for the Syracuse Stars in the year of 1890, and who was from America.

Ronald Bruce Leighton (born in 1951) who serves as a federal judge in the United States.

George N. Leighton (born in 1912) who was a film and television editor who was nominated for an Academy Award, who is most notably recognized for his work on Now You See Me (2013), The Princess Bride (1987), A Few Good Men (1992), and Stand By Me (1986), and who was from America.

Laura Leighton (born in 1968) who was an actress from America.

Francis Knyvett Leighton (1806-1881) wo was a priest, academic, a Warden of All Souls College, which is located in Oxford from the year of 1858 to the year of 1881, and who served as the Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University from the year of 1866 to the year of 1870, and who was from the country of England.

Blazons & Genealogy Notes

1) (Randolph de Leighton, 20 Edward I., 1330). Ar. three eagles’ heads erased sa.
2) (Watlesborough, co. Salop, bart.). Motto—Dread shame. (Bausley, or Ballesley, co. Montgomery, and of Shrewsbury; Rev. Francis Knyvett Leighton, descended from Daniel Leighton, Lieut,-CoI. in Gen. Evans’ horse, younger son of Sir Edward Leighton, first bart.). Quarterly, per fesse indented or and gu. Crest—A wyvern, wings expanded sa.
3) Quarterly, indented or and gu. in the 2nd and 3rd quarters six (another, three) boars’ heads of the first, three and three.
4) (Sir Bryan Leyghton, temp. Henry VIII.). Sa. on a bend ar. three escallops gu.
5) Ar. a buglehorn betw. three crescents sa.
6) Sa. two bars or, on a bend ar. three escallops gu.
7) (Ulishaven, co. Forfar). Motto—Per adversa virtus. Ar. a lion ramp. gu. Crest—A palm tree vert.