Surname Errington - Meaning and Origin

Errington: What does the surname Errington mean?

Errington is an English surname of Anglo-Saxon origin. It is derived from a place-name, usually indicative of where a family lived or held land. The name is believed to originate from three Old English elements: "Earn," meaning "eagle," "ing" meaning "people of," and "tūn" meaning "enclosure" or "settlement." There is a village named Errington in Northumberland, England, which may have given the surname to its early inhabitants. So, the surname Errington could potentially mean "settlement of the people of the Eagle." Over the centuries, surnames like Errington were passed down through generations, becoming significant familial identifiers. Generally, family names were used for practical purposes such as legal identification and distinguishing people with the same first name. Today, the name is spread worldwide while retaining its traditional English character.

Errington: Where does the name Errington come from?

The surname Errington originates from England and is believed to be a toponymic name derived from a place called Errington in Northumberland, Northern England. The name might be composed of an Old English personal name "Earing" along with "-tun", denoting a settlement or enclosure. Hence, Errington could mean "the settlement of Earing's people". It began its existence during the era of the Anglo-Saxon tribes in Britain.

The Errington family was historically a significant land-owning family in Northumberland, with records dating back to the 12th Century. Despite its British origins, emigration, colonial expansion, and global movements over centuries have spread the surname worldwide.

Today, the surname Errington can be found in countries like Canada, the United States, and Australia, although it remains most common in the United Kingdom. Areas of high concentration include Northumberland and Tyne and Wear in England. Cultural, economic, and political factors might contribute to the dispersion and current distribution of the surname.

Variations of the surname Errington

The surname Errington is of Anglo-Saxon origin, deriving from a place name in Northumberland. It may likely have been spelled differently in its initial usage and has had multiple variations over the centuries.

Some possible variations on the spelling of the surname Errington include Earington, Eryngton, Erringden, Erriton, and Erringdon. It’s essential to note that these variations might wrongly point to different family lines, and caution should be applied in regarding them as equivalent.

The name may also appear with a prefix or suffix, such as “de Errington” or “Errington-Smith,” indicating a connection with another family through marriage or otherwise.

Surname variations are often the outcome of phonetic translations from the original languages, record-keeping errors, and personal choices made by those bearing the surname to adapt to their sociocultural contexts. Therefore, the usage, pronunciation, and preference for a particular variation can change over time and geography. In fact, some Erringtons might not have an immediate connection with others bearing the same or similar surnames, signifying interruptions in the familial lines.

While looking for surnames of the same origin, consider those derived from geographical names in the same region of Northumberland. However, these won’t be exact equivalents of 'Errington.'

Famous people with the name Errington

• William Errington, a popular British actor in the early to mid-20th century featured in several films, including Murder in the Cathedral and Blanko.
• Mark Errington, a British actor best known for playing the lead role in the BBC period drama Bonekickers.
• Walter Errington, a renowned Australian athlete who won medals in the 1950 British Empire Games and 1952 Olympics.
• Catherine Errington, a noted English playwright who wrote the plays Within These Walls and Guvnah in the 1950s.
• Stanley Errington, an English poet and writer who works in the field of drama and literature.
• Sean Errington, a famous jazz saxophonist who regularly performs with renowned orchestras from all over the world.
• Trevor Errington, a prominent English footballer who played for seven different teams in the Football League.
• Ryan Errington, a British record producer and DJ best known for co-creating the 2000 dance single "Do You Like Bass?".
• Ambrose Errington, a well-known English actor and voice artist, most famous for his work on the popular animated series Tristan & Isolde.
• David Errington, a prominent business leader in the Silicon Valley tech industry, as well as a passionate philanthropist.

Other surnames

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