This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'of Seaton,' parishes and townships in Cumberland, Devon, County Durham, Rutland, Yorkshire (East Riding), and Northumberland.

Richard de Seton, or Setoune, Devon, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Elena de Seton, Yorkshire, ibid.

John de Seton, Cumberland, 20 Edward I: Placita de Quo Warranto, temp. Edward I-III.

John de Seton, Northumberland, ibid.

Sabella de Sayton, webestery 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

Johannes de Sayton, marchani, 1379: ibid.

1626. Baptised — Ann, d. Joseph Seaton: St. James, Clerkenwell.

Of territorial origin, from the village of Sai, near Exmes, in Normandy."Chalmers's assertion (Caledonia, I, p. 517) that Seiher de Say got land in East Lothian from David I and called it Sayton, and that his son, Alexander, took the name of de Seton, is unsupported by any evidence" (Latvrie, p. 424). The first Seton in Scottish record is Alexander Setone who witnessed a charter by King David I granting lands to Walter de Riddale, c. 1150 (ibid., p. 180). He also witnessed the grant by Gillemor filius Gilleconel to the church of Lesmahagow about the same period (Kelso, 187). Adam de Seton witnessed resignation of the lands of Warmanbie in Annandale, c. 1194—1214 (Annandale, I, p. 3). Alexander de Seton witnessed a confirmation charter by Alexander II to the Abbey of Kinloss, 1225 (REM., p. 459). John de Setun was witness in an Annandale charter of c. 1215—45 (Bain, I, 1681), and Serlone de Seton, knight, witnessed the gift of a mark of silver to the Abbey of Arnbroath, c. 1250 (RAA., I, p. 266). A History of the family of Seton during eight centuries, by George Seton, was published in Edinburgh, 1896, in two volumes. Of this work Monsignor (afterwards Bishop) Robert Seton, in his An Old family, or The Setons of Scotland and America, New York, 1899, says (p. xii):"It contains some things that are important, many things that are useful, and everything that is super-flous." Ceatoun 1567, Ceton 1486, Cetone 1437, Saittone 1588, Schethine 1657, Seatonne 1616, Seatown 1670, Seitoune 1516, Seittone 1410, Sethun c. 1230, Setoun 1567, Setoune 1474, Setowun 1528, Setton 1328, Settone 1613, Settoun 1590, Setun 1264, Seytoun 1485, Seytoune 1556.

(French + English) belonging to Seton or Seaton (Haddington), a.d. 1296 Seytone = (de) Sey's Ville [see the note under Seaton]

See Seton. Also parishes, &c., in cos. Devon, Rutland, York, Durham, Northumberland, Cumberland, &c.

From a curious M.S. genealogy of this family, Sir B. Burke extracts the following passage:-"There were few surnames in Scotland before the time of King Malcolm Canmore, except that, after the manner yet used in the Highlands, they used their father's name subjoined to their own in the form of a patronymic. The said King Malcolm gave to his nobles and gentlemen particular surnames; some by reason of their offices, and some after the names of the lands which they possessed, and some for other causes. Amongst whom the predecessor of this family got the name of Seton, as the chronicles testify, by occasion of the possession of the lands of that name, which was given to the lands by reason that the town thereof is situate hard upon the sea."

Local: from the lands of Seton in Haddingtonshire. The family are descended from Dowgal Seaton, temp. Malcolm Canmore-their ancient war cry and motto was "Set on."

Local. That is, sea—town, a parish in Perthshire, formerly called Errol. (See Seton.)

Local. From lands of that name in Haddingtonshire, Scotland, which were so called because the town thereof was situated close upon the sea, and which gave name to the family of Seton, so renowned in Scottish annals.

From Seaton or Seton co. Haddington; and perhaps sometimes from Seaton, name of parishes cos. Cumberland, Devon, Durham, Northumberland, Rutland, York, &c. Seaton is also a surname.