uel Lewis states the following about this family name: “Harrock Hall, the seat of the Boulton family, was purchased in 1839 from the Rigbys, of whom, in 1567, it had already been the residence for four generations: the house, around which are 420 acres, has been restored by the present possessor”.
Surname Spelling variants
Spelling or names with similar etymologies include Boulton, Boultone, and Boalton.
Bolton Family Mottoes
I have identified eight Bolton family mottoes:
1) Vi et virtute (By strength and valour)
2) Industria et virtute (By industry and virtue)
3) Dux vitae ratio (Reason is the guide of life)
4) Faire son devoir (Do your homework)
5) Mens conscia recti (A mind aware of what is right)
6) Aimez loyaulte (Love loyalty)
7) Aspiro (I aspire)
8) La mort me suit (Death follows me*)
*An allusion the bolts, or arrows, in the arms and crest of the family
Early Bearers of the Bolton Surname
William Boulton was born c. 1175 AD in Boulton, Yorkshire, England. His son, William Bolton or de Boulton, was born in Harewood, Yorkshire, England in 1196 AD. He married Emma Ruffus and had a daughter with her named Elizabeth. Elizabeth was born in the same town in 1222 AD. She married William Gasciogne V in 1248 AD, and had a son with him named William VI.
Robert de Boultron was recorded in the Early Yorkshire Charters in 1191 AD. Thomas de Bolton was recorded in Warwickshire, England in 1262 AD. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 AD, a census of Wales and England, known in Latin as Rotuli Hundredorum lists two bearers of this surname: Michael de Boulton (Yorkshire) and Thomas de Boulton (Lincolnshire). Adam de Boultone was reeve of Dunfres, Scotland in 1287 AD. The Placita de Quo Warranto documents Ricard de Boulton in Northumberland c. 1292. William fitz Geffray de Boiultone del counte de Edeneburk was documented in 1296 AD. John of Boulton was a mason at the Castle of Linlithgow in Sotland in 1302 AD. Robert Bolton was documented in Lancashire in 1371 AD. The Poll Tax Rolls of Yorkshire in 1379 AD also lists one bearer: Agnes de Bolton.
Popularity & Geographic Distribution
The last name Bolton ranks 994th popularity in the United Status as of the 2000 Census. The name ranks particularly high in the following four states: Mississippi (361st), Tennessee (474th), Georgia (477th), and Alabama (569th).
The surname Bolton frequency/commonness ranks as follows in the British Isles: England (355th), Scotland (879th), Wales (428th), Ireland (872nd) and Northern Ireland (807th). In England, it ranks highest in Lancashire and East Riding of Yorkshire. In Scotland, the surname ranks highest in Scottish Borders. In Ireland, it ranks highest in Leinster. In Wales, it ranks highest in Denbighshire.
The name is also present throughout the remainder English speaking world: Canada (1,083rd), New Zealand (), Australia (589th), and South Africa (3,124th).
In his 1890 book, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain, Henry Brougham Guppy, states the following in regard to this last name: “The Lancashire Boltons derive their name from parishes of the name in the county”.
Bolton Family Tree & Bolton Genealogy
Bolton of Bective Abbey
The genealogy of this branch of the Bolton family tree begins with John Bolton, of Great Fenton, county Stafford, England, the son of Sir Edward Bolton, Knight of Lancashire, and Margaret Ash. He was born c. 1525 AD. John had a son named Richard. This son, Sir Richard Bolton, Knight, settled in Ireland during the late sixteenth century. He was Recorder of Dublin in 1607 and Solicitor General in 1618. He was appointed Chief Baron of the Exchequer, received the honor of knighthood, and was made a Member of the Privy Council. In 1635, King Charles I granted him the lands of Tullydonnell in county Leath, Ireland. In 1639, he became Lord Chancellor of Ireland, and received a grant of land in the parish of Bective, county Meath. Richard married Frances, daughter of Richard Walter of Stafford, with whom he had eight issue as follows: 1) Sir Edward (heir), 2) Thomas (ancestor of Bolton of Tullydonnell, discussed in the next section), 3) J