The surname of AXTON was a locational name 'of Axton' a spot in County Kent in the south of England. Almost every city, town or village extant in the Middle Ages has served to name one or more families. While a man lived in a town or village he would not be known by its name, as that would be no means of identification - all in the village would be so named. But when a man left his birthplace or village where he had been known and went elsewhere, people would likely refer to him by the name of his former residence or by the name of the land which he owned. Some had the name of a manor or village because they were lords of that place and owned it, but the majority descend from vassals of freeman who once had lived there. Early records of the name mention AXTONE (without surname) who was recorded in County Kent in the year 1185, and William Astone appears in County Essex in the year 1300. Later instances of the name mention Lawrene Axton and Margaret Tipper, who were married at St. Peter, Cornhill, London in 1557. Buried. Lawrence Axtoune, 1562 ibid. Everalda Axon was baptised at St. James's, Clerkenwell, London in 1630 As early as the year 1100, it was quite common for English people to give French names to their children, and the earliest instances are found among the upper classes, both the clergy and the patrician families. The Norman-French names used were generally the names most commonly used by the Normans, who had introduced them into England during the Norman Invasion of William the Conqueror in 1066. In the Middle Ages heraldry came into use as a practical matter. It originated in the devices used to distinguish the armoured warriors in tournament and war, and was also placed on seals as marks of identity. As far as records show, true heraldry began in the middle of the 12th century, and appeared almost simultaneously in several countries of Western Europe.The associated arms are recorded in Sir Bernard Burkes General Armory.Ulster King of Arms in 1884.