Surname Deighton - Meaning and Origin
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Deighton: What does the surname Deighton mean?
The last name Deighton is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the place name Deighton, which exists in both Yorkshire and Lincolnshire in England. It is possible that the surname dates back to the Middle Ages, referring to an ancestor who had lived in one of the places called Deighton, or possibly moved from one of these places to another.
The name Deighton is thought to have two possible meanings, either "a homestead in a deep valley" from the Old English "dīc" meaning deep and "tūn" meaning homestead, or from the Old English "denu" meaning valley and "tūn" meaning farmstead or village.
The Deighton surname is well-known for its widespread distribution throughout the English-speaking world, especially with the immigration of early settlers from England to the America during the 17th and 18th centuries. Many of these immigrants adopted the English Deighton as their own, and the name is still quite common and widespread today.
In addition to a surname, Deighton is also a small village located in the English county of North Yorkshire. The village includes several old stone cottages as well as a historic church called St Chad’s Church. It is believed that Deighton got its name from an Old English phrase, which translates to “deor” meaning deer and “tūn” meaning farm or settlement.
Order DNA origin analysisDeighton: Where does the name Deighton come from?
The last name Deighton is not particularly common today, though it does exist in small communities in a handful of countries around the world. Examples include:
The United States: In the US, the last name Deighton can be found in small numbers all across the country, with a higher concentration in New England, particularly Maine, Vermont, and Massachusetts.
The United Kingdom: The last name Deighton is most closely associated with the United Kingdom, where it is particularly common in the towns, villages, and rural areas of Yorkshire and Lancashire.
Australia: While it is not exceptionally common in Australia, the last name Deighton can also be found in small pockets around the country, particularly in Victoria and Tasmania as well as urban areas in New South Wales.
New Zealand: The name Deighton is also present in small numbers in New Zealand, mainly concentrated in the South Island, particularly in the rural towns and villages of Otago and Canterbury.
Canada: Finally, the last name Deighton can also be found in small numbers in Canada, primarily in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec.
Despite its low overall frequency, the last name Deighton can still be found in locations throughout the United States, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada.
Variations of the surname Deighton
The surname Deighton is derived from an Olde English word meaning either “town” or perhaps “farm” or in some cases “settlement.” The variants of this surname include Deaton, Dighton, Dyghton, Deighton, Dieton, and Detton.
The spellings of the surname also vary slightly depending on which part of the world you look. In Britain and the United States, the spelling is mainly Deighton, while in other parts of the English-speaking world such as Canada and Australia, the spelling may be more commonly found as Deaton.
The surnames of the same origin include Daynton, Denton, Deintone, and Dentone.
In addition to the variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, there are other related surnames that are derived from Deighton as well. The surname Daykin is a patronymic variant of Deighton. Daykin is an old Saxon name meaning "Day's child.” Another variation is Daikin, which is Dutch in origin and comes from the Middle Dutch word “daiken,” which means “a steep slope.”
Finally, the surname Detton is also related to the Deighton surname. Detton is an English surname derived from an Old English word meaning “town near a ditch.”
Overall, the surname Deighton has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin that range from patronymic, Dutch, Old English and more.
Famous people with the name Deighton
- Len Deighton: English author, journalist and broadcaster, specialising in suspense and espionage fiction books.
- Mel Deighton: English professional footballer who played with Doncaster Rovers since January 2020.
- Pearl Deighton: British stage and television actress, best known for her role on British soap opera “Coronation Street”.
- Cindy Deighton: English author and founder of the blog “Louder Than the Storm”.
- Elyn Deighton: Canadian Theatrical Singer, Entertainer and Actress, credited with over 250 performances.
- Leah Deighton: British Actress best known for her role in the TV serial drama “The Bill”.
- Roy Deighton: English Recording Artist and Music Producer, releasing seven albums since 2010.
- Chris Deighton: American Reggae Musician, Singer and Composer, known for his single “Keep It Going” from 2016.
- Chris Deighton: English Scholar and Lecturer at King's College London, specialising in Business Law.
- Arkle Deighton: British Conservationist and Wildlife Biologist, most notably known for his involvement in the conservation of the majestic Emperor Penguin.