Nauntum History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Nauntum

What does the name Nauntum mean?

The ancestors of the Nauntum family brought their name to England in the wave of migration after the Norman Conquest of 1066. They lived in Suffolk.

Early Origins of the Nauntum family

The surname Nauntum was first found in Suffolk where they claim descent from the Norman knight, Bartholemew de Naunton who lived about the 12th century. Later the family settled at Alderton Hall in that county.

Early feudal rolls provided the king of the time a method of cataloguing holdings for taxation, but today they provide a glimpse into the wide surname spellings in use at that time. In Essex Hugh de Naunton was listed in the Feet of Fines for 1326. A very rare name, the next entry we found was Wyllyam Naunton in 1461 and later, Wyll Naunton in 1465. 1

Naunton is a parish, in the union of Stow-on-the-Wold, partly in the hundred of Bradley, but chiefly in the Lower division of that of Slaughter, E. division in Gloucestershire and Naunton-Beauchamp is a parish, in the union, and Upper division of the hundred, of Pershore, Pershore and E. divisions of Worcestershire. 2

The Gloucestershire parish dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 when it was known as Niwetone. 3 The Saxon parish of Niwwantune in 972, later became Newentune in the Domesday Book and later again Newenton Beauchamp when the Beauchamp family resided there in the 11th century. Both parishes literally mean "new farmstead or estate." 4

Early History of the Nauntum family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Nauntum research. Another 86 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1563, 1582, 1585, 1586, 1589, 1590, 1592, 1594, 1596, 1621, 1635, 1639, 1669 and 1758 are included under the topic Early Nauntum History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Nauntum Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years the English language had no fixed system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations occurred commonly in Anglo Norman surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Nauntum were recorded, including Naunton, Nawnton, Nanton, Nauntone and others.

Early Notables of the Nauntum family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir Robert Naunton (1563-1635), the English politician, "born at Alderton, Suffolk, in 1563, was eldest son of Henry Naunton of Alderton, by Elizabeth Ashby, and was grandson of William Naunton, whose wife Elizabeth was daughter of Sir Anthony Wingfield, K.G. Robert was educated at Cambridge, where he matriculated as a fellow-commoner of Trinity College. On 11 Nov. 1582 he was elected a scholar, graduating B.A. in the same year; he became on 2 Oct. 1585 a minor fellow, and on 15 March 1585-1586 a major fellow, and proceeded M.A. soon afterwards. In 1589...
Another 236 words (17 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Nauntum Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Nauntum family

The unstable environment in England at this time caused numerous families to board ships and leave in search of opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad in places like Ireland, Australia, and particularly the New World. The voyage was extremely difficult, however, and only taken at great expense. The cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels caused many to arrive diseased and starving, not to mention destitute from the enormous cost. Still opportunity in the emerging nations of Canada and the United States was far greater than at home and many went on to make important contributions to the cultures of their adopted countries. An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Nauntum arrived in North America very early: James Nawnton who landed in North America in 1715.

Sources +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)