Wilton

This is an interesting English locational name from any of the various places so called in Cumberland, Herefordshire, Norfolk, Somerset, Wiltshire and Yorkshire. Wilton in Somerset and Yorkshire have as their first element, the Olde English pre 7th Century "Wiell(a)" a spring or stream. The place that has given its name to Wiltshire derives its name from the river "Wylye", an ancient British river name, possibly meaning "capricious". The others, however, are named from the Olde English "Wiligi" willow and "tun", enclosure or settlement, thus denoting a village where willows grew. One Hugh de Wilton, appeared in the Pipe Rolls of Wiltshire in 1162, while the Calendar of Inquisitions post mortem record one Walter de Wilton in 1273. William de Wilton (deceased 1264) was justice itinerant (1248 - 1250) and was appointed chief justice (1261) and died while fighting for Henry 111 at the battle of Lewes. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Gerald de Wiltune which was dated 1086, in the "Domesday Book, Wiltshire", during the reign of King William 1st, known as "The Conqueror", 1066 - 1087. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.