Paxton

Paxton is a surname and a given name of English origin, toponymic from places named Paxton in England. The placename is believed to derive from Old English elements referring to a farm or settlement associated with a personal name, though exact etymology varies among scholars.

As a surname, Paxton is common in the English-speaking world. Notable bearers include Joseph Paxton (1803–1865), a British gardener and architect who designed the Crystal Palace, and Bill Paxton (1955–2017), an American actor.

As a given name, Paxton has risen in popularity in the United States and elsewhere. A number of notable people have Paxton as a first name, including Paxton Lynch (born 1993), an American football quarterback.

There are several places named Paxton in the United States, including Paxton, Massachusetts, a town in Worcester County, and Paxton, Illinois, a village in Ford County. The name is also found in other English-speaking regions as a toponym, reflecting the historical spread of English place names to new settlements.