The name Nathon is a variant spelling of the Hebrew name Nathan, which means "he gave" or "gift of God." It has its origins in ancient Israel and the Hebrew Bible, where it was borne by the prophet Nathan, who played a pivotal role in the reigns of King David and King Solomon around the 10th century BCE.

Nathan appears in several books of the Hebrew Bible, including 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, and 1 Chronicles. He was a trusted advisor to King David and famously confronted him about his affair with Bathsheba. Nathan also played a role in the succession of Solomon as king after David's death.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the variant spelling Nathon can be found in the medieval English text "The Wycliffite Bible," which dates back to the late 14th century. This version of the Bible uses the spelling "Nathon" when referring to the prophet Nathan.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Nathon or its variants. In the 17th century, Nathon Pynchon was an English-born American colonist who founded Springfield, Massachusetts in 1636. Nathon Bangs was a 19th-century American politician who served as the 13th Governor of Massachusetts from 1851 to 1854.

In the realm of literature, Nathon Hill Wright was a 19th-century American writer and editor who published several works, including "The Life of Pauline Cushman" in 1865. Nathon Jasper Whiting, born in 1824, was a notable American educator and author who wrote several textbooks on mathematics and astronomy.

Another notable figure was Nathon Farlow, a 19th-century American farmer and politician who served as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives and the Massachusetts Senate in the 1840s and 1850s.

While the name Nathon is not as common as its counterpart Nathan, it has a rich historical legacy rooted in the ancient Hebrew tradition and has been borne by individuals across various fields throughout the centuries.