MIDDLETON
Middleton is an English locational surname, derived from the Old English words middel, meaning “middle”, and tun, meaning “settlement” or “enclosure”. The name originally identified a person who dwelt in a settlement situated in the middle of a region or between two other places.
The surname is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 under various forms such as Middeltune, Middeltone and Mideltuna in counties including Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Shropshire and Sussex. These places, long after the third century, bore the Olde English pre‑seventh‑century term midel combined with tun, and the surname spread as former inhabitants moved elsewhere and were identified by their birthplace.
Early documentary evidence shows the name in use from the mid‑1100s. The first recorded spelling is that of Robert de Mideltone, dated 1166 in the Eynsham Chartulary, Oxfordshire, during the reign of King Henry XI, known as “The Builder of Churches” (1154–1189). Subsequent examples include Umfridus de Midilton (Arbroath, Scotland, 1221) and Gilbert de Middelton (Yorkshire, 1273).
By the early modern period the name had been adopted by notable families, such as the Barons of Barham and the Earls of Middleton. The heraldic tradition associated with the surname includes no less than forty‑two distinct coats of arms, reflecting the widespread adoption of the name across England.
Emigration of bearers of the name to the New World is recorded as early as the 17th century. The first member of the family known to settle in America was John Middleton, who departed London on the ship Assurance bound for Virginia in July 1635.
In the same century, Charles Middleton (1640–1719), second Earl of Middleton and titular Earl of Monmouth, served as secretary of state to James XI and later was appointed secretary of state for England in 1684. His career illustrates the influence and prominence that bearers of the surname could attain within the British political establishment.
Typical given names associated with the Middleton surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Paul
- Peter
- Robert
- Stephen
- William
Female
- Alison
- Claire
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Helen
- Julie
- Linda
- Margaret
- Mary
- Patricia
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Middleton in...
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Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Middleton are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Oreo.
There are approximately 30,222 people named Middleton in the UK. That makes it the 267th most common surname in Britain. Around 464 in a million people in Britain are named Middleton.
Surname type: Location or geographical feature
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Middleton
- Tuppence Middleton - Actress
- Daniel Robert Middleton - Professional gamer and YouTuber
- Carole Middleton - Businesswoman. Mother of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge
- Ant Middleton - Special Forces Soldier and Television Personality
- Thomas Middleton - Playwright and poet (1580 to 1627)
- James Middleton - Businessman and member of the Middleton family
- Max Middleton - Musician
- Tom Middleton - Electronic musician
- John Middleton - Actor well known for his part in ITV's Emmerdale as Ashley Thomas
- Malcolm Middleton - Musician
- Glenn Middleton - Scottish football player
- Gary Middleton - Politician from Northern Ireland
- Stanley Middleton - Writer (1919 to 2009)
- Peter Middleton - Manager
- Charles Middleton, 1st Baron Barham - Admiral, politician and abolitionist (1726 to 1813)
- Christopher Middleton - Poet (1926 to 2015)
- Harry Middleton - Football player
- Yevonde Middleton - Photographer (1893 to 1975)
- Jeremy Middleton - Politician
- Simon Middleton - Rugby union football player and coach, and rugby league football player
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.