Layton is a surname derived from various place names in England. Two known etymologies stem from place names in Lancashire (in Blackpool) and another in North Yorkshire. The former was named in Old English as ‘settlement by the watercourse’, from Old English lād ‘watercourse’ + tūn ‘enclosure’, ‘settlement’; the latter as ‘leek enclosure’ or ‘herb garden’, from lēac ‘leek’ + tūn. Also often spelled as Leighton. Notable people with the surname include:
Bentley Layton (born 1941), American religious scholarBob Layton (born 1953), American comic book artistCaleb R. Layton (1851–1930), U.S. Representative from DelawareCaleb S. Layton (1798–1882), American politician and judge from DelawareChris Layton (born 1955), American drummerChristopher Layton (1821–1898), Mormon church leaderDaniel J. Layton (1879–1960), Supreme Court Justice of DelawareEddie Layton (1925–2004), American organistEdwin T. Layton (1903–1984), American naval intelligence officerGeoffrey Layton (1884–1964), British admiralGeorge Layton (born 1943), British actorGilbert Layton (1899–1961), Canadian politicianIrving Layton (1912–2006), Canadian poetJack Layton (1950–2011), Canadian politicianJoe Layton (1931–1994), American director and choreographerLindy Layton (born 1970), British singerMichael John Layton, 2nd Baron Layton (1912–1989), British businessman and politicianMike Layton (born 1980), Canadian politicianPaul Layton (born 1947), English bass guitaristRandy Layton, American music producerRobert Layton (1925–2002), Canadian politicianRoger Layton, developer of MBRwizardStephen Layton (born 1966), English conductorTurner Layton (1894–1978), American songwriter, singer and pianistWalter Thomas Layton, 1st Baron Layton (1884–1966), British economist, editor, and newspaper proprietor