Galten History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Galten is an ancient Norman name that arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Galten family lived in a place named Galton in Dorset. The place-name was originally derived from the Old English words gafol, which means tributre and tun, which means enclosure or settlement. Together, these words refer to an estate that was held by the payment of rent rather than by feudal ties. The Galten family were lords of the manor of Galton and they received their lands from William the Conqueror as a reward for their participation in the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Immediately following the Norman Conquest, William the Conqueror drastically changed the appearance of the social hierarchy in England by dispossessing nearly all Anglo-Saxon landholders and replacing them with his own followers and military supporters.

Early Origins of the Galten family

The surname Galten was first found in Dorset where they were Lords of the manor of Galton from very ancient times, and received the lands from William the Conqueror for their assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D. They were descended from a Norman noble of the name De Galton.

Early History of the Galten family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Galten research. Another 65 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Galten History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Galten Spelling Variations

Norman surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are largely due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England, as well as the official court languages of Latin and French, also had pronounced influences on the spelling of surnames. Since medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings. The name has been spelled Gailton, Gaulton, Galtone, Galton and others.

Early Notables of the Galten family

More information is included under the topic Early Galten Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Galten family

Many English families emigrated to North American colonies in order to escape the political chaos in Britain at this time. Unfortunately, many English families made the trip to the New World under extremely harsh conditions. Overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the stormy Atlantic. Despite these hardships, many of the families prospered and went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the United States and Canada. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Galten or a variant listed above: Reynold Galton who settled in Nevis in the Caribbean in 1654. In Newfoundland, John Galton settled in Trinity Bay in 1767; John Gaulton settled in Trinity in 1832.

The Galten Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Gaudet luce videri
Motto Translation: Rejoices to be seen in the light.