MORETON
Moreton is a locational surname of English origin, derived from the Old English words mor meaning “marsh” or “fen” and tun meaning “enclosure” or “settlement.” It therefore signifies a person who lived near or in a settlement by a marsh.
The surname is established across the British Isles. In England it is associated with any of the more than twenty places called either Moreton or Morton, recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. In Scotland it originates from the village of Morton in Dumfriesshire or from Mryrton (now Morton) in Fife. Similar locational roots are also found in Ireland, where the name has appeared since the fourteenth century.
Historical sources provide some of the earliest surviving references to the name. The most senior recording is that of Robert de Mortone in the Pipe Rolls of Wiltshire, dated 1130, during the reign of King Henry the First. Subsequent entries include Hugh de Mortun, prior of May in Scotland, in 1204; Robert de Morton of Nottingham in the Hundred Rolls of 1273; and Master Thomas Mirton, chaplain to the king of Scotland, in 1422.
Over time, spelling variants have occurred, such as Moorton, Mourton, Morton, Mairtoun, and Mirton. All share the same etymological root and meaning, “the settlement by the moor.” Despite their diverse orthography, they refer to the same locational origin.
Today, the Moreton name continues to appear in census records and genealogical registers throughout the United Kingdom, reflecting its enduring heritage within the context of its English, Scottish and Irish associations.
Typical given names associated with the Moreton surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Richard
- Robert
Female
- Carol
- Christine
- Claire
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Helen
- Jane
- Julie
- Karen
- Margaret
- Mary
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- Marton
- Marten
- Maerten
- Martens
- Maertens
- Mareton
- Marrton
- Martoun
- Martun
- Moerton
- Moreto
- Maartens
- Maertin
- Mairtin
- Maraden
- Maradin
- Maraton
- Mardan
- Mardani
- Marden
- Mardin
- Mardini
- Mardon
- Mareden
- Maritan
- Maritano
- Maritn
- Marrtin
- Martain
- Martan
- Martean
- Martein
- Martian
- Martien
- Martin
- Martina
- Martine
- Martineau
- Martini
- Martinn
- Martino
- Martinou
- Martinu
- Martion
- Martn
- Martone
- Martoni
- Marttin
- Martyn
- Martyna
- Martyne
- Mauton
- Mawton
- Meardon
- Meartin
- Mearton
- Meerten
- Meertens
- Mehrtens
- Merdon
- Meredeen
- Mereton
- Meridan
- Meriden
- Meridian
- Meridon
- Meriton
- Merreden
- Merridan
- Merriden
- Merriton
- Merten
- Mertens
- Mertin
- Merton
- Mertons
- Merttens
- Mertyn
- Mirtin
- Mirton
- Mooradian
- Moorton
- Moradian
- Moraton
- Mordain
- Mordan
- Morden
- Mordin
- Mordini
- Mordon
- Moredon
- Moret
- Morettini
- Moretto
- Moriton
- Morlton
- Mornton
- Morston
- Mortain
- Mortan
- Morten
- Mortin
- Mortini
- Mortn
- Morton
- Mortons
- Mortson
- Mortton
- Mortyn
- Mouradian
- Mourton
- Muirden
- Muraton
- Murden
- Murdin
- Murdon
- Murten
- Murtin
- Murton
- Myrddin
- Myrton
- Mortoo
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Moreton in...
Braille
⠍⠕⠗⠑⠞⠕⠝
Morse
-----.-..-----.
Semaphore
Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Moreton are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Rich Tea.
There are approximately 4,849 people named Moreton in the UK. That makes it roughly the 1,946th most common surname in Britain. Around 74 in a million people in Britain are named Moreton.
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 Moreton
- Kevin Moreton - Actor
- Alice Bertha Moreton - (1901 to 1977)
- Berkeley Moreton, 4th Earl of Ducie - Politician, British peer (1834 to 1924)
- Stephen Moreton - Cricketer
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.