This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'of Newton.' Naturally found in every county in England; compare Oldham, Newham, Newstead, &c. It would be easy to furnish instances from every early register of names.

Gannora de Neutone, Staffordshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Ralph de Neatone, Huntingdonshire, ibid.

Alan de Neuton, Lincolnshire, ibid.

Willelmus de Neweton, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

Johannes de Neuton, 1379: ibid.

1579. John Newton, Salop: Register of the University of Oxford.

1683. Baptised — Thomas, s. Thomas Newton: St. Peter, Cornhill.

Of local origin from places of the name. The first three persons here named derived their name from the old parish of Newton in Midlothian. James de Neutone and Huwe de Neutone of Edinberghshire rendered homage in 1296 (Bain, II, p. 201,213). Alexander de Newtoun de eodem was one of assize on the perambulation of the bounds of Gladmor, 1430 (James 11, 16). James de Newton, person of Bedrule, 479 (Morton, p. 53), most probably derived his name from the lands of Newton in the parish of Bedrule. John de Newton is recorded in Glasgow, 1446 (REG., 348), and another John Neuton, 'Scotsman,' had a safe conduct into England in 1463 (Bain, IV, 1338).

(English) belonging to Newton; or Dweller at the New Farmstead, Estate, Manor, &c. [usual Anglo-Saxon dat. form ‘æt Niwantúne’ (v. under Newington), from níwe and tún] Alan de Neuton.—Cal. Ing. P.M., A.D. 1249.

Willelmus de Neweton.—Yorks Poll-Tax, A.D. 1379.

(English, Scottish) One who came from Newton (the recently founded homestead), probably the most common English place name, also the name of several places in Scotland.

"The new enclosure, or homestead"-a widely-spread surname of many local origins, there being, besides minor localities and farms, no less than 90 parishes, townships, and chapelries in S. Britain so called, besides upwards of 50 in Scotland. The heraldric dictionaries assign nearly 40 coats to the name. The family of the great Philosopher is pretty satifactorily traced from the Newtons of Newton, co. Chester, in the XIII. cent. Sussex Arch. Coll. ix. 313.

Local: From Newton in Haddingtonshire. The family were seated there in 1377; Sir Isaac Newton derived his descent from them.

Local. The name of several small towns in England—the new town.

It appears from Sir David Brewster’s Life of the great philosopher, that according to a statement verified by the latter, he was the son of Isaac Newton of Woolsthorpe, Lincoln, Esq., and was fifth in descent from John N. of Westby in Basingthorpe, Lincoln, who, judging from the dates, was probably born c. 1470.

The earlier history has been disputed; but none of the origins assigned to the family have any evidence in their favour, except that from the N.s of Barr’s Court, Gloucester, whose representative entailed his estates and baronetcy on the Newtons of Gonnerby, Lincoln (who were certainly of the same family as Sir Isaac Newton). Lord Monson, however, has shown that the similarity of name to that of the family of Barr’s Court was merely accidental, and that there was no relationship (Notes and Queries, i. 190, 3d Series). The arrangement arose from a mortgage. The family of Newton was of far older standing in Lincoln; it had formerly been of considerable importance, but its estates had in a great measure passed away. Newton was between Folkingham and Sleaford, a few miles from Westby, Gonnerby, and Woolsthorpe, the later seats of the family, the direct ancestor of which was William Pesson, or Peisson, a Norman, whose estates lay in the Caux, and who in 1086 held Neuton from Odo Arbalister. Of this estate Ouvesby, Uvesby, or Osbornby, and Trikingham (which are adjacent), appear to have been members. He also possessed Bottingdon, Lincoln, where he made grants to the Knights Templars (Mon. Ang. ii. 535). Ingelram Peisson, his son, t. Henry I. (Mon. Angl. i. 773) appears to have acquired other lands at Neuton, Trikingham, and in Lincoln by grant from De Craon, and Do la Haye. Reginald de Neuton or Niweton and Alan Pescams (Pesson) his brother, held in 1165 a knight’s fee by ancient tenure from De la Haye (Liber Niger), and granted lands to Barlings Abbey, Lincoln (Mon. ii. 644). At this time Osmond Piscis or Pesson (probably his brother) held the Norman estate in the Caux. Sir Richard N. t. Henry II. was Constable of Nichola de la Haye (Mon. ii. 1015), and had William de Niuton, who was also Constable of De la Haye, and with Peter de N. is mentioned in Normandy 1198 (Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae). To omit other names, Sir Robert N., t. Edward I., claimed free warren at Neuton by immemorial right (Rot. Hundr. i. 256), and t. Edward III., John Willoughby, Knt. enfeoffed John de Neuton and others in lands, parcel of the manor of Haconby in the Hundred of Aveland near Neuton (Inq. p. rnort.). A century later we find the ancestors of Sir Isaac Newton resident in the same vicinity in the Hundred of Aveland. The principal estates probably passed away by heiresses.

A frequent location name.

Newton. —This surname has a disconnected distribution in different parts of England, being nearly always derived from the names of parishes, townships, and other localities in the same county. It is best represented in the northern half of England.