Often a family surname is taken as a first name. This is usually from the maternal side of the family tree. In this case, most likely, the name comes from the geographic location from which this family originated. The name "Abington Jones" appears in the Southampton County, Virginia marriages. On the 19th of February 1770, Abington was married to Mary Simmon "widow".
The parish Abington is given in "A Topographical Dictionary of England" by Samuel Lewis, p. 5. It was located in the county of Northampton. There was also a "Abington in the Clay", "Abington (GREAT)", and "Abington (LITTLE). These were all parishes in the county of Cambridge. [Lewis p. 6.] This would certainly give the genealogist a possible lead to the origins of this name. Unusual first names as maternal family surnames...interesting.
Caroline Cunningham, Vol. I, p. 1.
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