The name Payton has its origins in the Old English language and is derived from the word "Pæga", which means "dweller by the pæga or peacock enclosure". The name is believed to have first emerged in the 5th or 6th century AD in Anglo-Saxon England.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Payton can be found in the Domesday Book, a manuscript record of landholders in England compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. The entry lists a landowner named "Payton de Warrewic" in the county of Warwickshire.

In the 12th century, a Benedictine monk named Payton of Malmesbury was renowned for his scholarly works, including a chronicle of English history titled "Historia Novella". He lived from around 1095 to 1170.

During the 14th century, Sir Payton Rous was a notable English antiquarian and historian who compiled the "Rous Roll", a genealogical record of the English monarchy from the reign of King Egbert in the 9th century.

In the 16th century, Payton Randolph was a prominent English author and playwright who wrote several works, including the play "The Jealous Lovers" in 1584. He was born in 1542 and died in 1608.

Another notable figure with the name Payton was Sir Payton Ventris, an English jurist and legal scholar who lived from 1638 to 1691. He made significant contributions to the development of English common law and is remembered for his influential legal treatises.

These examples illustrate the long-standing presence of the name Payton in various regions of England and its association with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including scholars, writers, and legal experts throughout history.