Meaning & Story
A habitational surname from the Old English place name Paccingtun meaning "Peac's town," Payton rose to popularity as a given name in America, partly through sports associations with NFL legend Walter Payton.
Payton has the easy, sporty quality of American surname-names that found their way into given names in the late 20th century. The great NFL running back Walter Payton — nicknamed Sweetness for his combination of extraordinary athletic ability and genuine warmth — gave the name an aspirational quality in American sports culture. On a pet, Payton suits an active, capable animal with natural athletic grace and the kind of even-tempered enthusiasm that makes training a genuine pleasure.