The Fulton Family History

What Does the Fulton Surname Mean? Historical Origins Explained

The surname Fulton is of English and Scottish origin, deriving from the Old English words ‘fugal’ and ‘tun’, which denote a bird enclosure or cage. Variants of the name include Fullton and Ffulton. The earliest recorded bearers of the Fulton surname were situated in the Roxburghshire region of Scotland. Over time, these families migrated southward into England, settling in counties such as Yorkshire, Lancashire, Cheshire, Durham, Northumberland, and Cumberland, as well as in the city of London. In Scotland, the Fulton surname is prevalent across southern and central areas, particularly in the counties of Lanarkshire, Ayrshire, and Renfrewshire. In the United States, the initial concentrations of Fulton families emerged in states including New York, Kentucky, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Ohio. Notable individuals bearing this surname include Robert Fulton, an engineer renowned for his advancements in commercial steamboat technology; Alexander Fulton, the founder of Alexandria, Louisiana, in 1805; Liam Mark Fulton, a professional rugby player from Australia; Rikki Fulton, a Scottish television actor; Cheryl Ann Fulton, a professional harpist; Maurice Garland Fulton, a historian; Robin Fulton, a Scottish poet; Thomas Fulton, a music conductor; and Wendy Fulton, a television actress.