In this section there are entries on some of the families that have particular associations with the village, and also some of the famous people who have lived here.
The Dixon family, coming from Cockfield in County Durham, are a very important family. These are the Dixons of the Mason-Dixon line, the Dixons who brought Cleopatra's Needle to London, the Dixon who built the Yarm railway viaduct, the Dixon who pioneered gas lighting, and so on.
George Dixon, first superintendent of the Quaker school at Ayton, and his part of the Dixon family, who were nearly all Quakers, can be seen at Dixon-Family
Waynman Dixon, who lived at Ayton House, and his part of the Dixon family, can be seen at Waynman-Dixon-Family
The Richardson family seems to have originated in Ayton. They were early converts to the Society of Friends, and were important in the development of the leather industry. Thomas Richardson was especially important in village history; having made his fortune establishing a bill-broking business in London, he financed the setting up of the North of England Agricultural School and the British School, and built Cleveland Lodge. They can be seen at Richardson-Family
The Thistlethwaite family came to Ayton when Jeremiah Thistlthwaite set up his grocery business in the village. His part of the Thistlethwaite family can be seen at Thistlethwaite-Family
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