Surname Sutton - Meaning and Origin

Discovering the Historical Depths of Sutton: A Journey with iGENEA DNA Testing

I delved into a deep genealogical examination with the help of iGENEA. The DNA test results, elucidating my lineage, the ancient roots of my family name Sutton, and our geographical migrations, birthed a newfound admiration for my ancestry and left a lasting impact upon me.

F. Sutton

Sutton: What does the surname Sutton mean?

The surname Sutton is of English origin and denotes a geographical location. It is derived from the Old English words "sūth" and "tūn", which roughly translate to "south farm" or "south settlement". Hence, the name was typically given to those who resided to the south of a main settlement or in the southern portion of a town or village. It's considered a habitational name, a type of surname that derives from places. There are numerous places named Sutton across England and therefore, it became a common surname among those living in or near such locations. It is prevalent within the UK, but can also be found in countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, largely due to British emigration.

Sutton: Where does the name Sutton come from?

The surname Sutton is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is considered a geographical or topographic name. It originates from the Old English words "suth", meaning south, and "tun", meaning farm or settlement. Thus, Sutton typically denotes a person who lived in or belonged to a place located to the "south of the village".

It was first found in Nottinghamshire, England, where the Suttons held a family seat since ancient times. Later, many members of the Sutton family migrated to Ireland during the 12th century.

Today, Sutton stands as a popular surname in the English-speaking world, especially in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. According to surname distribution data from Forebears, it is most commonly found in the United States, followed by England. In the United States, it ranks as the 331st most common surname, and in England, it ranks 136th. In Australia and Canada, it is the 260th and 319th most common surname, respectively. Therefore, the Sutton surname spans across multiple countries, with a significant presence in English-speaking countries.

Variations of the surname Sutton

The surname Sutton has a variety of spellings and close variants that have persisted throughout history and across regions. These can include, but are not limited to: Suton, Sutten, Sueton, Soughton, and Souton.

The name Sutton is of English origin and many surnames with similar roots can also be derived from a place or village's location or characteristics. Given that Sutton means "south town" in Old English, other surnames of similar origins may include names like Southton or Southtown.

In some cases, Sutton could be interpreted or recorded incorrectly, leading to variations such as Sutter, Suttle, or even Sudton.

Also, spelling variations occurred often due to an indifference in spelling by scribes, clergymen, and the bearers of names in centuries past, thus other spellings and variants can possibly exist.

However, to ascertain if certain surnames significantly distanced from Sutton are indeed variants or of the same origin would require detailed genealogical research and expert analysis. Keep in mind that while spelling variations could indicate connection, they might also be independent surnames that coincidentally share similarities.

Famous people with the name Sutton

• Morgan Sutton: American model and actress.
• Katherine Sutton: American professional golfer.
• Jonathan Sutton: American actor known for his roles in State of Affairs, Allegiance and The Middle.
• Elizabeth Sutton: American artist and sculptor.
• Alexandra Sutton: British actress known for playing Maddie Gwilym in the BBC soap opera Doctors.
• Scott Sutton: American college basketball head coach.
• Kevin Sutton: British actor and stuntman, known for roles in Harry Potter and the order of Phoenix, Kingsman: The Secret Service and The World's End.
• Dixie Sutton: English actress known for appearing in Doctor Who, Shakespearean productions and musicals.
• Edward C. Sutton: United States Air Force four-star general and former commander, Pacific Air Forces.
• Alster Dale Sutton: World War II United States Navy veteran and received the Silver Star.

Other surnames

SuttoneSuttor