This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Qi3.2ACIB/1759.1 Message Board Post: I know of two Nortons. Norton's of Shapenhoe. This family in Normandy was called deNorville. (North village) He came to England with William the Conqueror and was reported to be a sheriff (tax collector). CT was settled in a large part this family of Norton's as well as parts of MASS. A 2nd line is the Norton's of York that produced Fletcher Norton, speaker of the House of Commons during the American Revolution. This line of Norton's actually goes back to Egbertus Congniers from Normandy. His decendant (Roger or Robert ) married Margaret Norton who fromt he Sharpenhoe Norton's. Margaret inherited Norton lands and Roger took the title/name of Norton. This Norton line became very prominent marrying into the Royal lines of Scotland and England. When Henry VIII invented the English church the Norton's remained loyal to Catholicism. This lead to a revolt against Elizabeth in 1579 and 8 Norton's were marytered. One Norton, Edmund stayed faithfull to Elizabeth and this line produced Fletcher Norton. The other lines in large part emigrated to America before 1700. One line moved to Spanish Flanders and was supported by the King of Spain as they tried to arrange a royal marriage to replace Elizabeth. More info can be found at www.nortonfamily.net