stanton

Stanton is a surname and place name of English origin. It derives from Old English elements stan, meaning stone, and tun, meaning enclosure or settlement, typically referring to a stony settlement. The name has been used as both a surname and, less commonly, as a given name, and it appears in various countries with historical ties to English-language communities.

Notable individuals with the surname include Edwin M. Stanton (1814–1869), who served as United States Secretary of War under President Abraham Lincoln; Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815–1902), a leading figure in the early women's rights movement; and Harriet Stanton Blatch (1856–1945), a suffragist and writer. The name appears across politics, science, literature, and other fields, reflecting its long-standing presence in English-speaking societies.

There are places named Stanton in the United States, including Stanton, California, a city in Orange County, and Stanton, Kentucky, the county seat of Powell County. In addition to these, numerous villages and towns bearing the name exist in the United Kingdom and other parts of the world, underscoring the geographic spread of the toponym.

Today, Stanton remains in use as a surname and, on occasion, as a given name. It also persists in the naming of places and in family histories, preserving a connection to its English origins and historic geography.