This unusual name has its origins in the ancient history of Britain, since it derives from the latin "straet", meaning a (Roman) road and "tun" a village or homestead. There are two place names that could have given rise to this surname, Stratton and Stretton, both found in may counties of England and all meaning the "tun" on the "straet". First recordings in the Domesday Book of 1086 confirm this interpretation. "Stratons" in Derbyshire and "Stratuen" in Herefordshire, both signifying a village or homestead by a paved (Roman) road. One Thomas Stinton was christened on the 23rd November 1656, at St. Andrews in Holborn, London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Agnes Strutton, married John Clarck. which was dated 9th February 1594, St. Stephens, Coleman St., London. during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, Good Queen Bess, 1558 - 1604. 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.