Recorded as Stretton and sometimes Stratton, Streaton, Stritton, and perhaps others, this is an English surname. It is locational from all or any of the many places in Britain called Stretton. All Strettons have the same meaning which is "The settlement (tun) by the Roman Road". The derivation is from the descriptive word "straet" which was used by the original inhabitants of Britain to indicate a paved way. As in fact there were no paved roads except those built by the Romans, the word became specific in meaning, as in Watling Street or Ermine Street, which still exist. The famous Domesday Book of 1086 records a number of what were to become "Strettons". These include Stratune in Herefordshire, Stratone in Rutland, and Stratun in Shropshire, perhaps the most famous Stretton. One of the earliest settlers in the new American colonies was Elizabeth Streaton (as spelt) who sailed there on the ship "Increase" on April 1st, 1635. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Hervey de Strettona. This was dated 1165, in the County Pipe Rolls of Cheshire, during the reign of King Henry 11, known as "The Church Builder" 1154 - 1189. 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.

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