This is a locational name which derives from one of the ancient villages in Lancashire, Westmoreland, and Yorkshire now called "Winton", but originally found in such forms as Ventona, Wintenia, Wyntuna, Wythynton etc., at the time of the 1086 Domesday Book. Equally the "modern" surname found as "Vinton" and "Venton", can also derive from Fenton or Entun, the consonants V, F, and W, being largely interchangeable in medieval English. The name translates as "The farm by a fen" or "The farm in the willows" or even "Winns farm", but in all cases the name is of Old English origin. There is conjecture that the name can mean "The wine farm"; this is possible and would also account for its apparent disappearance, wine growing in England ceasing after the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1535. The marriage of William Vinton and Ann Holmes was recorded at Rotherham, in Yorkshire, on July 26th 1612. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John Venton, which was dated June 22nd 1551, married Jane Wodeland at St. Margarets, Westminster, during the reign of King Edward V1, "The Boy King", 1548 - 1554. 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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