Hinton is a surname of English origin, derived from a place name that means "settlement on a hill". It was initially a locational surname, given to people who lived in or near a town called Hinton. The name may also have derived from the Old English word "henge-tun", meaning "fenced-in settlement". Hinton has a long history and is a fairly common surname in the United Kingdom and the United States. Famous individuals with the surname Hinton include author S.E. Hinton, musician Joe Hinton, and mathematician John Hinton.