Surname Hotton - Meaning and Origin

Hotton: What does the surname Hotton mean?

Hotton is a French surname that has its origins in the Ardennes region of eastern France. It is a toponymic surname derived from the place name of "Hotot en Auge," a French town located between Normandy and Paris. The area was a stronghold of the Norman family, the d'Hotons, who held the town for generations.

In line with this toponymic origin, the name Hotton itself is thought to mean “at the town of Hotot.” This suggests that anyone who bore this last name was likely a direct descendant of the d'Hotons, and that the family at one time had a close relationship with the town of Hotot.

It is also possible that the name “Hotton” is derived from an older Middle-French term, “hoton,” which translates roughly to “hero” or “strong man.” This interpretation of the name implies that bearers of the name were seen as brave or strong, though without any direct connection to the town of Hotot.

Today, the surname Hotton is found in both France and the United States, with those carrying the name often tracing their ancestry back to the original d'Hotons. So while the exact origin of the name may remain a mystery, its meaning here and now is a reminder of the legacy of a long-gone French family and their connection to the town of Hotot.

Hotton: Where does the name Hotton come from?

The last name Hotton is common today in Belgium and the Netherlands. It is also found regularly in France, primarily in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais and Picardie regions. The surname is also present, albeit rarely, in countries such as the United States, Canada, Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay as a result of European emigration during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Outside of Europe, it is mostly found amongst the descendants of immigrants from the Low Countries.

In terms of Belgium, the surname is particularly ubiquitous in the province of Luxembourg, where it has existed since the seventeenth century. The municipality of Hotton is located in this area and is likely the origin of the name. Hotton, located in the heart of the Ardennes region, is also the oldest municipality in the province. It was founded in 1242 and became a municipal corporation in 1335.

The Dutch-speaking Belgian provinces of Flanders and Wallonia also contain a significant proportion of the Hotton diaspora. According to the Belgian Office for Population and Migration, the last name was the 1,048th most common across the kingdom in 2019.

In the Netherlands, the surname is most frequently found in the southern provinces of Limburg and North Brabant, which are close to the Belgian border. It is also present in the major cities of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Utrecht. In terms of frequency, Hotton was the 4,546th most popular family name in the Netherlands as of 2019.

Variations of the surname Hotton

Hotton is a surname which has a variety of different spellings and variants. It is believed to be of French origin and is derived from the Old French word 'hote' which means ‘refuge’. Common variants and spellings of Hotton include Horton, Hoten, Hacketon, Haughton, Houghton, and Hottinger.

Hotton is a common surname in England, where it is frequently found with the suffix -ton, meaning “enclosure, settlement”. Horton is also found in English records, derived from an Old English personal name, from “Gara’s estate”. The versions of the name Hottinger and Hacketon are found in records of German origin, but they may also have been given to immigrants arriving in England from France.

In France, records of the surname Hotton have historically been found in the regions of Normandy, Picardy, Burgundy, and Brittany. It is also found in the Netherlands, where versions of the name such as Hutten, Hottinga, and Hottelet are used. In Switzerland, variants of the name such as Hotten, Hottinger, Hottenberger, and Hotinger can be found in records.

The Hotton surname has been recorded in America since at least the 17th century, and can mainly be found around the states of New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. Americans with the Hotton surname may have decedents originating from the Channel Islands, or from France.

In summary, Hotton is a surname of French origin, which has many spellings, variants, and surnames of similar origin. It is found in records all across Europe, as well as in America.

Famous people with the name Hotton

• Sébastien Hotton: French synchronized swimmer who won gold medals at the 1998 European Aquatics Championships.
• Aurèlie Hotton: Belgian Paralympic swimmer who won three medals at the 2016 Rio Paralympics, including individual gold in the 100m Freestyle S13.
• Philippe Hotton: Belgian composer of chamber and orchestral music whose works have been performed throughout Europe.
• Dieter Hotton: Belgian professional footballer who played more than 300 matches with Waterloo, KV Mechelen and Germinal Beerschot during the 1980s.
• Elodie Hotton: Belgian athlete who was the silver medallist in the 100m Hurdles at the 2007 European Junior Championships.
• Edward Hotton: American basketball player and coach who served as an Assistant Coach for the Maryland Terrapins.
• Olivier Hotton: Belgian hurdler and long jumper who competed at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.
• Frédéric Hotton: Belgian organist and harpsichordist who is the director of the Music Department at the Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles.
• Corentin Hotton: Belgian swimmer and recipient of the 2013 Isabelle Jehanno Award for Outstanding Swimmer.
• Aimé Hotton: Belgian Catholic priest and missionary who served in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Other surnames

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