This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'of Littleton,' parishes and townships in Cheshire, Dorset, Middlesex, Somerset, Hampshire, Wiltshire, Worcestershire, and Gloucestershire.

Michael de Lutelton, Wiltshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Henry de Lutleton, Somerset, 1 Edward III: Kirby's Quest.

Francis Littleton, Staffordshire, 1575: Register of the University of Oxford.

John Littleton, Worcestershire, 1576: ibid.

1590. John Litleton and Mereall Bromley: Marriage Lic. (London).

1751. Married — Joseph Littleton and Sarah Bury: St. George's Chapel, Mayfair.

Many places in various counties are so designated. The celebrated jurist, Sir Thomas Lyttelton, who had three sons, whose posterity were elevated to the peerage in each line, sprang maternally from Thomas de Luttelton, of co. Worcester, temp. Henry II. The surname probably originated at one of the several places called Littleton, in that county.

Or Westcote, appears to be a branch of De Vautort or Valletort, from Vautort, Maine, of which family Reginald, Hugh, and Goisfrid de Valletort came to England 1066. Reginald held thirty-three lordships from the Earl of Cornwall, 1086. From him descended Hugh de Valletort, who in 1165 held one fee in Devon and fifty-nine in Cornwall (see Dugdale for the later history). Joel de Valletort, a younger brother, was living 1165, and held estates in North Tawton, Derth, and Alfeton, Devon, of the Earls of Devon (Lib. Nig.; Testa). From him descended the Valletorts of North Tawton, who bore argent, three bends gules, within a bordure bezantée. The same arms, with slight difference of tincture, were borne by the family of Westcote in Marwood, near North Tawton, whence it may be inferred that they were a younger branch. Of this line Eustace de Marwood occurs, 13th cent. (Testa de Neville). Henry de Westcote, his son or grandson, possessed W. 1279 (Collins), and in 1314 John de Westcote occurs. Robert W. is mentioned in Devon, 1424, and his brother, Thomas Westcote of Westcote in Marwood, m. the heiress of Lyttelton of Worcester, and was father of the famous Lyttelton, Lord Chief Justice, author of the treatise on Tenures, and ancestor of Lord Lyttelton the historian. Hence the existing Lords Lyttelton.