Woonton

A geographical and locational name from Olde English and Anglo Saxon pre 7th Century, and meaning 'The dweller at the farm by the wood' (Wod-tun). The name was originally found only in Gloucestershire. There are a number of modern spellings including Wooten, Wootton, Woonton, Wootten etc., but all have the same origin and meaning. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Wagen de Wotton. which was dated 1048, The Olde English Names register during the reign of Edward the Confessor, 1042-1066 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.