Let me share with you the historical background of your family name, Congilton. Your family’s name first gained prominence in East Lothian, near the parish of Dirleton, renowned for its impressive castle and its proximity to the Firth of Forth. The name is most likely a territorial description, indicating someone “de” or from Congilton. The term “ton” originated from Old English, referring to a substantial farmstead that later evolved into “town.” The meaning of “Congil” is somewhat elusive, potentially representing a person’s name (thus signifying the farmstead belonging to an individual named Congil) or stemming from the Old Norse term “Kang,” which means bend (suggesting the farmstead located at a bend, possibly of a river). In any case, it appears that the origin of Congilton was in an area initially influenced by Anglo-Saxon culture and later influenced by Viking domination. The exact location, however, remains somewhat of a mystery, as there is no definitive record of that place name in Scotland, and any references to possible locations are intertwined with the surname or associated with the lordship of an individual with the surname.

One possibility is that the progenitor of your family may have originally hailed from the town of Congilton in Cheshire. During the late eleventh and early twelfth centuries, amidst a series of intense dynastic conflicts, the various sons of Malcolm III launched multiple invasions of Scotland from England in their quest to claim the throne. These invasions brought Anglo-Norman adventurer knights as part of their armies. Once the kings were established, they rewarded these adventurers with land, often in southern Scotland. Therefore, it is conceivable that a Norman knight from Cheshire joined David I and eventually established himself in Scotland.

The first recorded mention of the surname appears with Robert de Congaltoun, who is listed as a witness to a charter granted in 1182. A generation later, Walter de Congilton witnessed a charter of Dryburgh Abbey around 1224. In 1296, Walter de Congeltone and Mabille de Cungiltone pledged their allegiance to Edward I following his invasion of Scotland. The arms of Congilton, as recorded in the Lyon register, display the simplicity expected of an ancient family. There was also at least one cadet branch, Congilton of Dirleton, which is documented in Alexander Nisbet’s System of Heraldry. It appears that they intermarried with other prominent East Lothian families and remained active in the Haddington area during the late seventeenth century. William Congilton, for example, was appointed a justice of the peace for that county.