This surname is derived from a geographical locality. (1) 'of Irton,' a parish in Cumberland; also a township in the parish of Seamer, North Riding of Yorks; (a) 'of Ireton,' a parish in Derbyshire, near Wirksworth.

William de Irton, Yorkshire, in Hundred Rolls.

Stephen de Irtone, Derbyshire, ibid.

Thomas de Irton, Cambridgeshire, 20 Edward I: Placita de Quo Warranto, temp. Edward I-III.

1619. Richard Irton, Wiltshire: Register of the University of Oxford.

1662. Robert Ireton: Preston Guild Rolls.

1662. Edward Nelthorp and Mary Sleigh, d. Mrs. Ireton: Marriage Alleg. (Canterbury).

(Anglo-Scand.) belonging to 1 Irton (Yorks), 13th cent. Irton = (prob.) Ivarr’s Homestead [v. Ivar, and + Old Norse tún = Old English tún] 2 Irton (Cumb.), A.D. 1246-7 Irton, a name supposed to be derived from the River Irt, on which the village stands; but the stream-name may be derived from the village-name.

Cp. Ireton and Irby.

A parish in Derbyshire, which belonged to the family temp. Richard Coeurde-Lion. Henry, brother of Sewallis, lord of Eatington, co. Warwick, ancestor of the noble family of Shirley, had a son Fulcher de Ireton, lord of Ireton, direct ancestor of Henry Ireton, the son-in-law of Oliver Cromwell, whose father alienated Ireton in the reign of Elizabeth.

"A family of very great antiquity, and resident at Irton, on the river Irt (co. Cumberland), from whence the name is derived, as early as the reign of Henry I." Shirley's Noble and Gentle Men. Samuel Irton, Esq., of Irton, still possesses the manor which was the fief of his ancestor more than seven centuries ago.

Local. From Ireton, a manor in County Derby, England. In Gaelic, the west town or hill.

A branch of Ensor and Shirley.

From Ireton; a location name in Derbyshire in the Domesday Book, Hiretune, Iretune.