Orton is a unique and distinct given name of English origin. Its meaning can be interpreted in different ways depending on the context or source used for reference.
Some sources suggest that Orton is derived from an Old English personal name, 'Æðelþun', which consisted of two elements: 'æthel' meaning noble or wealthy, and 'þun' referring to a thorn bush. Therefore, Orton could be translated as "noble thorn bush".
Other sources indicate that Orton may have been derived from an Old Norse personal name, 'Órtnarr', composed of the elements 'órn' meaning eagle and 'hnarr' meaning strong or hardy. In this case, Orton would mean "strong as an eagle".
Historically, Orton has not been a particularly common given name throughout history. It is possible that Orton was originally used as a surname before being adopted as a given name in some instances. There are several places named Orton scattered across England, such as Orton upon Trent in Lincolnshire and Orton Longueville in Norfolk, which may have contributed to the use of Orton as a personal name in those regions.
There is no significant historical figure or notable person associated with the name Orton, making it difficult to trace its popularity or usage throughout history. However, some famous individuals named Orton include American actor and comedian Redd Foxx (born Frederick Lee Washington), whose stage name was derived from his childhood nickname "Redd" and his mother's maiden name Orton; and English poet and author Thomas Love Peacock, who included characters with the surname Orton in some of his works.
In conclusion, Orton is an uncommon yet distinctive given name of English origin, with a meaning that can vary depending on the source used for interpretation. Its historical usage has been limited, but it has still made appearances as both a personal and surname throughout history.
The statistics provided show the annual number of births with the name Orton in the United States from 1905 to 1951. Over this period, there was a total of 210 babies named Orton.
The highest number of Orton births occurred in 1921 and 1923, each year seeing 14 newborns with that name. This suggests that these were particularly popular years for the name Orton among parents in the United States.
Interestingly, there was a significant gap between births from 1929 to 1951, indicating that the name Orton may have fallen out of fashion during this time period. However, it is important to note that these statistics only represent a small subset of overall birth numbers and do not necessarily reflect broader naming trends.
Despite fluctuations in popularity, the consistent presence of Orton births over several decades indicates that this name has maintained some level of familiarity among parents throughout the first half of the twentieth century in the United States.