Broughton

This name is of English locational origin from any of the numerous places so called, for example Broughton in Buckinghamshire, Cumberland, Huntingdonshire, Warwickshire, Shropshire, Northamptonshire, Hampshire etc.. The second element in all cases, derives from the Olde English pre 7th Century 'tun', a farm or settlement. The first element 'Brough' may derive from any of three sources. Firstly the Olde English pre 7th Century 'broc', a brook or stream as found in Broughton (Huntingdonshire) recorded as Broctune in the Domesday Book of 1086, secondly 'Burh', a fortress the one in Shropshire, recorded as 'Burghton' in the Hundred Rolls of 1255, is named with this element, and finally, Broughton in Hampshire, recorded as Berghton in 1239, derives its first element from the Olde English 'beorg', a hill or barrow. Richard Broughton (deceased 1634) wrote 'The Ecclesiastical' in 1633. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Richard de Broghtone, witness, which was dated 1247 'The Fine Court Rolls of Oxfordshire', during the reign of King Henry 111, The Frenchman, 1216 - 1272. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.