This name is of Scottish locational origin from an old village of the name in the parish of Bedrule, Roxburghshire, so called from the old English pre 7th Century "fugol", bird, plus "tun", an enclosure or settlement. The surname first appears on record in the mid 13th Century, (see below). In 1272 a quitclaim of the land of Fulton was witnesses by one Thomas de Fulton, and in 1273 a grant by Malcolm, earl of Levenax to Paisley, was witnesses by an Alan de Foulton. Henry de Foultone of Lanarkshire rendered homage to Edward 1 of England in 1296 and Thomas de Fougheltone of Lanarkshire rendered homage in that year also.
16th Century records show that one, Robert Foultoun possessed a tenement in Irvine in 1506, and John Fultoune possessed one in Glasgow in 1554. An interesting namebearer was Robert Fulton (1765 - 1815), of Ulster Scottish descent who was the first to successfully apply steam to navigation in the United States. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Thomas de Fulton, witness to a donation, which was dated circa 1260 - "Register of the monastery of Paisley", during the reign of King Alexander 111 of Scotland, 1249 - 1286. 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.
The history of the surname fulton is, like that of most surnames, a complex and fascinating journey to ancient times with the aim of unraveling the origin of fulton. Adhering to what we know about the way surnames originated, it is possible to offer a realistic explanation of the origins of fulton.
It is common for surnames like fulton to become known in places far removed from their country or region of origin. Discover which ones.
The historical journey of the surname fulton can be traced back to those who were the first bearers of fulton. In the following lines, you will find everything we have been able to gather about the surname fulton.
You can visit us regularly to get more information about the origin of the surname fulton, as we frequently accept significant contributions from other individuals interested in heraldry and the history of surnames.
Unfortunately, it's highly probable that not all fultons who performed notable deeds have been included in historical chronicles and records. If you or someone you know bears the surname fulton, you could potentially build illustrious lineages through your efforts and virtues. It is our desire to highlight in this section those individuals with the surname fulton who, for various reasons, have left their mark on the course of history.
It goes without saying that consulting bibliographic and documentary sources is essential when accessing information about the origins of the surname fulton. Accessing the archives of the town or towns where your ancestors were born and lived is, of course, a good way to trace the origins of fulton.
These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of fulton, and at the same time, of surnames in general.