Hampton

Hampton is a place name used in many English-speaking countries. The toponym derives from Old English ham, meaning homestead or village, and tun, meaning enclosure or settlement, yielding “home farm town” or “homestead village.”

In the United Kingdom, several localities bear the name, including Hampton in the London borough of Richmond upon Thames, a riverside suburb known for its historic and residential character. The name also appears in other parishes and neighborhoods across the countryside, reflecting the common pattern of English place names rooted in early settlement sites.

In the United States, Hampton is the name of numerous towns and cities. The most populous is Hampton, Virginia, on the Virginia Peninsula, which hosts Hampton University and NASA Langley Research Center. Other U.S. Hamptons include coastal Hampton, New Hampshire, and cities such as Hampton, Georgia, and Hampton, Minnesota, among others. The spread of the name reflects British settlement patterns and subsequent American place-naming.

Beyond geography, Hampton is also used as a surname and appears in various institutions and enterprises named after people bearing the name. The related term Hamptons refers to the East End region of Long Island, New York, a distinct and historically affluent summer destination that includes communities such as East Hampton and Southampton.

Overall, Hampton functions as a widely used toponym with strong historical roots in English place-naming, a presence in multiple countries, and cultural associations tied to the coastal and suburban spaces that bear the name.