Recorded in many forms as shown below, this is an Irish surname. However as Hatton when it occurs in Ireland , it is often impossible to tell whether it has Irish or English origins, without a full genealogical survey. What can be said is that in Ireland the name generally originates from the pre 10th century Gaelic surname Mac giolla Chatain, meaning the son of the follower of St. Catan. He was an early 8th century saint whose memory is revered thoughout the country. Recorded in the spellings of McIlhatton, McHatton, McKilhatton, McClatton, Macklehatton as well as Hatton, according to the late Edward MacLysaght, the leading Irish historian, the surname is mainly to be found in the Ulster counties of Antrim and Derry. This is born out by surviving church register recordings of the 17th century. These early examples shown as entered in the register include John Mc Kilhatton at Templemore, County Derry, on April 23rd 1661, and Jennett Mc Ilhatton who married George Mcc Adames at the same place on January 29th 1678. John Hatton of Belfast was a famine emigrant aged 21, who sailed on the ship "Adam-Carr" bound for New York on June 23rd 1846. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop," often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.