Chilton Origins

The Meaning of Chilton

As with many surnames, there is no clear origin for Chilton. One proposal is that it is a locational name derived from the old English 'cilda-tun', meaning either "children's enclave" or "prince's town". Another interpretation is that it means "Well beside the hill".

The Mayflower

Yes, there was a Chilton family on the Mayflower! James Chilton, his wife and daughter Mary were on board. James' wife died during the voyage and James did not survive long after. Mary married a Winslow and her descendants are well documented elsewhere.

Distribution in England and Wales

The Chilton name is neither rare nor common. In the late 19th Century, based on the 1881 census, Chiltons were well represented in Staffordshire, Middlesex, County Durham, Buckinghamshire and Yorkshire. There were also reasonable numbers in Shropshire, Lancashire, Surrey and Worcestershire.