Hilton family of Hylton

The first written evidence of the Hilton family is in 1157 A.D., on an agreement between Romanus de Hilton and Absolom, Prior of Durham, that Romanus should have an officiating chaplain in his chapel of Hylton, adjoining Hylton Castle. The same Romanus held three knights fees "in ancient feoffment", which suggests he was by no means first in the line, and there had been many generations of Hiltons before him.