The name Drayton has its origins in Old English, derived from the place name Drayton, which means "village on a dry ridge." The name is believed to have originated in the Anglo-Saxon period, around the 5th to 11th centuries AD, and was initially used as a surname for people who lived in or came from a place called Drayton.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Drayton as a given name dates back to the 13th century. In 1285, a man named Drayton de Beauchamp was mentioned in historical records from Warwickshire, England. This suggests that the name may have transitioned from being a surname to a given name around this time.

In the 14th century, the poet Michael Drayton (1563-1631) was born in Warwickshire, England. He is considered one of the most significant poets of the Renaissance period and is best known for his topographical poem "Poly-Olbion," which describes the landscape and history of England.

Another notable figure named Drayton was Drayton Bassett (1657-1723), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Staffordshire in the early 18th century.

In the 19th century, Drayton Mayrant (1809-1898) was an American politician and planter from South Carolina. He served as a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives and was actively involved in the secession movement that led to the American Civil War.

The name Drayton also appears in religious texts, such as the Geneva Bible of 1560, where a place called "Drayton" is mentioned in the book of Joshua.

While the name Drayton has its roots in England, it has been used across various cultures and regions over the centuries. Some other notable figures with the name include Drayton Nabers Jr. (1920-2014), an American lawyer and judge from Alabama, and Drayton Bird (born 1938), an English author and expert in direct marketing.