Although the name of Barton is found prominently in Western Europe, English authorities claim it to be a pure Anglo-Saxon word derived from "bere or bore" meaning barley, and "tun" signifying enclosure. Later the word barton actually came into general use as a farm enclosure surrounded by the house, equivalent to the French "ferme." As Barton is pure Anglo-Saxon it was certainly applied before the invasions of Danes and Normans. It probably came into use about 500 AD. The family name Barton, as so often is the case, was derived from the agricultural term quite similarly to the family name, Farmer.
In the Battle Abbey Roll of Knights who crossed from France with William the Conqueror in 1066 AD the name Barton does not occur, but there are near equivalents, Bortin (pronounced Bartang) and Bortine which may prove to be ancestors of some Barton and Bartine families.
Some have professed to have found the name in the Doomsday Book, a survey made in 1086 AD of the land holders in England who were primarily Knights, by the Norman King William. The document has been carefully studied in both lithographic replica and modern English transcription and nothing closer than the distinctly unrelated family name "Bortie" was found. The "Roger Barton, Knight of Bath" mentioned in several early English documents is really Roger Bortie as proven by a rare pamphlet giving names of all those knighted in the reign of Charles I. Others have professed to find "Bertone" in the Doomsday Book. In any case, it would suggest an early Saxon landholder, not a Norman knight.
Before 1200 AD the Barton family name appears in land records in England as Bartuna and Bertuna, in 1202 as Bareton and in 1238 as Barthon.
The recording of pedigrees in England was associated with families bearing Coats of Arms. The earliest pedigree of a Barton family which has been found is that of Gilbert de Nottun de Barton. He lived about 1250 AD. His Arms were 3 boars' heads found in heraldic compilations of 1450 and 1567. Typical of early days of heraldry, words were cleverly weaved to pronounce the name of "Boarton."
Another early Barton pedigree , doubtless related to that of Gilbert, starts with Dominus John de Barton, ~1270-1328 AD, of Fryton, Lancashire. His Coat of Arms was 3 golden rings. He had a grandson, Rogerus Barton, before 1400 AD. In 1380 a John de Barton was prominent in Surrey. In 1416, Harry Barton was Lord Mayor of London. His Arms were 1 golden ring on an ermine shield.
Another John Barton, b. ~1400, founded Middleton Bartons of Lancaster County. About 1450 the Arms of Richard Barton of Lancasterchyre were 3 golden rings, indicating a relationship of the 2 families as Richard's father had 2 boars heads in his Arms.
Ralph Barton of Holme, Lancaster (b. ~1420) was the ancestor of the Smithelis Bartons and used 4 stags heads in his Arms. Roger Barton (b. ~1490) was the founder of the Diddleston Bartons.
There is a tradition in several Barton families concerning 3 brothers coming to America. This type of tradition often heard in other families many times is proven incorrect. However, in the case of the Bartons it seems to be somewhat supported. One form of the Barton tradition says that one brother went to MA, one to PA, and the last to NY. Another form of the tradition says that all 3 arrived in NY where one stayed, one went south, and one went north.
It has been asserted for many years that these 3 brothers were the sons of a ship captain named Edward plying between England and Barbados. No records have been produced to support this claim. However, there was a captain named Edward who is reported to be buried in Barbados and 2 Thomas Bartons, one dying in 1638 and the other dying in 1658. Records for Roger and Rufus in Barbados have not been found.
Undisputed records show Thomas Barton in Burlington Co, NJ in 1642. Furthermore, we see Rufus' signature on a land lease in Manhattan, NY in 1642. Roger first appears in 1662 as one of 4 appointed to lay out the town of Brookhaven on Long Island, NY. And what appears to tie Roger and Thomas together is the nuncupative will of Enoch Barton in Salem Co, NJ. This Enoch is believed to be Roger's son and Salem Co is nearby Burlington Co. Furthermore, we know that Rufus ended up in Rhode Island from where all of his American descendants originated.
The history of Roger will be included in a personal history format on this website.
