Surname Legett - Meaning and Origin

Legett: What does the surname Legett mean?

The surname Leggett is of French origin, derived from the term 'leget', a diminutive of the personal name 'Leodegar'. The name Leodegar itself originated from the Germanic name 'Liutgard', composed of the elements 'liut', meaning 'people', and 'gard' interpreted as 'enclosure'. Thus, Leggett can loosely translate to 'people's encampment'. However, some claim that the surname Leggett is a job-descriptive name derived from Anglo-Norman French 'legat' meaning ‘legate’ - an ecclesiastical term for a representative of the Pope. Over the years, the spelling changed to its current form. The surname first appeared in Medieval England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. As with many surnames, the exact meaning may vary based on regional and cultural interpretations. As a common surname, Leggett is found in several countries, predominantly in English-speaking nations.

Legett: Where does the name Legett come from?

The surname Legett is of French origin, traced back to the medieval period. The name was derived from the Old French word "legat," meaning an ambassador or emissary. This term was often applied to persons who were charged with various special missions. It was first found in Burgundy, a historical region in east-central France.

In various documents, the name has been spelled Leget, Legat, Legatt, Leggat, Leggatt, Legget, Leggett, and many more. Occurrences of the name can be traced back to Scotland, specifically in the regions of Aberdeenshire and Banffshire, with some families of the name migrating to America during the 17th century.

Today, the surname Legett is not particularly common in any specific region. Instead, it is rather dispersed around the world, with its highest frequency in the United States, followed by England and Canada according to Forebears' surname prevalence data. It is suggested that migration over centuries has led to this distribution pattern.

Variations of the surname Legett

The surname Legett seem to have originated from the Anglo-Norman region and is likely a variant of the French surname "Leggett," meaning a delegate or ambassador. The name has seen many variations in its spelling over the centuries due to different cultural interpretations and phonetic translations. These include Legat, Leggat, Legatt, Leggatt, Legget, Leggott, Liggat, Ligget, Liggett, and Laggett. Many of these variants are due to different English, Scottish, and Irish interpretations of the surname.

In some cases, prefixes or suffixes may be added, creating further variants such as Lillegutt or Legate. A common variant in Northern Ireland is Liggett. In Scotland, the often-used forms are Leggat and Leggatt, while in England it can be found as Legate or Leggott. Therefore the spelling of the surname can often provide clues about one's geographical origins. Family names can also be influenced by local dialects and accents, which leads to the creation of new variants over time.

Your own family history and genealogy research can potentially lead to the discovery of additional variants and spellings for the surname Legett based on specific family lines and regional influences.

Famous people with the name Legett

• Dr. Anthony Leggett: Dr. Anthony Leggett is a world-renowned physicist who won the 2003 Nobel Prize in Physics for his groundbreaking work on superconductivity and superfluidity.
• Matthew Leggett: Matthew Leggett was an English physicist who is known for his work on the luminiferous ether, which shaped early understanding of the properties of light.
• Carolina Leggett: Carolina Leggett is a professional dancer and choreographer who is a master teacher of Horton, Graham, and Limon techniques.
• Dontrelle Leggett: Dontrelle Leggett is an American football player who currently plays cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys.
• Darnell Leggett: Darnell Leggett is a former professional American football player who played for the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers.
• Akili Leggett: Akili Leggett is a musician, songwriter, and producer who is the drummer for the iconic Beach Boys.
• Chris Leggett: Chris Leggett is a singer-songwriter and musician best known for his work with the platinum-selling band Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
• Erin Leggett: Erin Leggett is an American dancer and television personality who has appeared on the shows Dance Moms and So You Think You Can Dance?
• Rebecca Leggett: Rebecca Leggett is an American actress and comedian who has appeared in films such as Legally Blonde and Adventureland.
• Robert Leggett: Robert Leggett was an American civil rights leader, author, and the first African American elected to serve on a school board in the state of Texas.

Other surnames

Leget