Compton
A common English locational surname meaning someone from one of the many places called Compton, literally a “farmstead in a valley.”
The #971 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 8,617 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Compton comes from Old English roots meaning “valley” and “farmstead” or “settlement.” In place-name form, it refers to a village or estate situated in a hollow or enclosed valley. The surname was typically taken from a place called Compton rather than from a personal nickname or occupation.
History
This is one of the classic English locational surnames, and medieval records show people styling themselves “de Compton” from several counties. Lower notes that a branch of the Northamptons took the name from an estate in Warwickshire, while other writers point out that there are many places called Compton across England, which helped the surname spread widely. The name remains especially associated with England and English-speaking countries.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
There are dozens of places in England named Compton, which is one reason the surname developed in more than one family line.
From the historical record
“COMMONS. A pluralization of Common. COMPTON. The Marquis of Nor- thampton derives from Turchil, possessor of Arden, co. Warwick, before the Con- quest. His descendant Osbert, in 1169, assumed the name of Compton from his estate in the same county. The Gazetteer mentions thirty other places of this name in various…”
— Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United KingdomNotable people named Compton
- Arthur Compton (1892–1962)
- Spencer Compton, 1st Earl of Wilmington (1674–1743)
Sourced from Wikidata; linked to their Wikipedia page.