Naughton (pronounced Nock-ton in Ireland) is an Irish gaelic surname derived from the name Ó Neachtain meaning 'descendent of Nechtan'. A Sept of the Dal gCais of the same stock as Quinn and Hartigan where located in Inchiquin Barony, Co. Clare.
Another O'Neachtain Sept of the Ui Maine who were chiefs of Máenmaige, the plain lying around Loughrea in Galway, until the Cambro-Norman invasion. After the upheaval they settled in the Fews (Barony of Athlone, Co. Roscommon). O'Neachtain appears as Chief of the Fews in several sixteenth century manuscripts, and as late as the eighteen eighties the Naughtons of Thomastown Park posseessed an estate of 4,829 acres (19.54 km2) between Athlone and Ballinasloe.
The English surname Norton has occasionally been substituted for Naughton. The Nortons of Athlone are descended from Feradach O'Neachtain who died in 1790. In County Kerry, Behan or Behane was used interchangeably with Naughton.
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