This name is of English locational origin from any of the various places thus called, for example Exton in Devonshire, Somerset, Hampshire and Rutland. The former two derive their first element from the river Exe on which they're situated, so named from the Olde British "esce" or "easc" meaning "water", plus the Olde English "tun", a farm or settlement. Exton in Hampshire, recorded as "aet East Seaxnatune" in the "Anglo-Saxon Chronicles", dated 940, and as Essessentun in the Domesday Book of 1086 means "the "tun" of the East Saxons". Exton in Rutland, recorded in the Domesday Book as Exentune, derives its name from the Olde English "Esna-tun" translating as "ox-farm". Sir Thomas Exton (1631 - 1688) was M. P. Cambridge 1676 - 1688. Other recordings include Ambrose Extone, christened at the famous church of St. Lawrence Jewry, London on February 11th 1571, whilst on June 18th 1623 Thomasina Brooke married Thon Exton at the church of St. Gregory and St. Paul, London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Alexander de (of) Exton, which was dated 1273 in the Hundred Rolls of Devonshire, during the reign of King Edward 1, known as the Hammer of the Scots, 1272 - 1307. 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.