Sinton

Recorded in at least three spellings including Sinton, Senten and Senton, this surname is of Anglo-Scottish pre 7th century origins. It is a locational name either from Sinton in Worcestershire, England, or from Sinton near Selkirk, in Scotland, an area for centuries under "English" control. In both place names the origin of the first element is uncertain; but may be a short form of "severn" meaning a stream, whilst the second is clearly the Olde English pre 7th Century "tun" meaning enclosure, settlement. During the Middle Ages when it was increasingly common for people to migrate from their birthplace to seek work further afield the custom developed that they would adopt the placename as a means of identification. Early examples of recordings include Alexander de Sintun, who in the year 1200 in Scotland witnessed a charter by Henry de Graham, and in 1269 a later Alexander de Sinton also appears as a charter witness in the similar rolls. The surviving church registers recordings include Agnes Senton, who married John Lowthe at St Margarets, westminster, on October 4th 1571, and the christening of Thomas, son of Robert and Elizabeth Sinton, on June 24th 1674 at St. Dunstan's, Stepney. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Andrew de Synton, which was dated circa 1165, in the "Calendar of Documents relating to Scotland", during the reign of King William "The Lion" of Scotland, 1165 - 1214. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.