Dalton / Coat of Arms, Family Crest and Dalton / Family History

Dalton / Family History

The ancient origin of the name Dalton was found in the irishsurnames.com archives. Meaning 'from the valley town', this name derives from a place in England called Alton and a Henry de Dalton, of Northumberland who was recorded in the 'Hundred Rolls' in the year 1273. In Ireland the name was established before the Anglo-Norman invasion. The first Dalton to come to Ireland was Walter, who had taken flight from France having incurred the wrath of the French King by marrying his daughter. He and his offspring became powerful and owned lands in Teffia, county Meath. This territory became known as 'Dalton's Country' where they erected three magnificent Castles. They spread through Counties Cork, Tipperary and Clare, the former County of which is the place most closely associated with the name in modern times.The Dalton family crest (or coat of arms) came into existence many centuries ago. The process of creating these coats of arms began as early as the eleventh century although a form of Proto-Heraldry may have existed in some countries prior to this, including Ireland. The new more formalized art of Heraldry made it possible for families and even individual family members to have their very own family crest, coat of arms, including Dalton descendants.