Recorded as Hatten, Hatton, Atten and Atton, this is either an English or an Irish surname. If English it originates from any of the various places called Hatton in the counties of Cheshire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, and Warwickshire. The derivation is from the Olde English pre 7th century word "hoed" meaning heathland and "tun", a farm or settlement. As a surname it was generally given to people who left their original Hatton village, and moved elsewhere. The easiest form of identification being to call people by the name of the place from whence they came. In Ireland the origination is quite different. The name originates from the pre 10th century Gaelic Mac giolla Chatain, a clan whose members were followers of St. Catan, an early saint whose memory was revered in the country. The surname is mainly found in the Ulster counties of Antrim and Derry. Early examples of the surname recordings from both countries include: John Hatton, who was christened at St. Stephan's church, Coleman Street,city of London, on February 2nd 1547, and Anne Atton who married James Eustace at All Hallows church, London Wall, on February 13rh 1710. In Ireland Patricke Hatton, the son of Thomas Hatton, was christened at Derry Cathedral on March 1st 1656, whilst John Hatton, aged 21, was a "famine emigrant" who sailed on the ship "Adam-Carr" bound for New York on June 23rd 1846. One of the earliest recording of the family name was that of Sir Christopher Hatton, (1540 - 1591), during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1st of England, 1558-1603. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop," often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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