Surname Petitt - Meaning and Origin
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Petitt: What does the surname Petitt mean?
The last name Petitt is of French origin, derived from the French word "petit" which translates to "small" or "little" in English. This surname was primarily used as a nickname in medieval times, usually given to individuals who were small in stature or the youngest in a family. It was also occasionally used to convey endearment. It's important to note that surnames had significant importance in the Middle Ages as they were used to describe a person’s profession, location, or characteristics. Today, the name Petitt is popular among families of French descent but can also be found across the globe due to the migration and distribution of French people throughout history.
Order DNA origin analysisPetitt: Where does the name Petitt come from?
The surname Petitt is most commonly found in the United States. According to the United States Census Bureau, as of 2020, there were over 1,775 individuals with the last name Petitt living in the United States.
The majority of individuals with the last name Petitt are located in the states of Mississippi and Louisiana, with the highest concentrations found in the cities of Hammond, LA and Picayune, MS. This concentration can be explained by the fact that these two locations were largely settled by ethnic French during the 18th and 19th century.
In addition to the two aforementioned states, Petitt can also be found in small quantities in other parts of the United States, including Oklahoma, Colorado, and Hawaii. In terms of other countries, Petitt can be found in small numbers in France, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Costa Rica.
Overall, the surname Petitt is most commonly found in the United States and is heavily concentrated in Mississippi and Louisiana. Although present in other regions of the world, the number of individuals with the last name Petitt living outside of the United States is low.
Variations of the surname Petitt
The surname Petitt is an Anglicised version of the French name Petit. The French Petit is also a nickname originating from the medieval personal name Le Petit. Petit is derived from the Latin “petit” meaning “little” and this is reflected in the various spellings and surnames with the same origin.
Variants of the surname Petitt include Petit, Petite, Petiti, and Petitte. These variants are typically associated with French Canadian family lines and are noted as quite rare.
The surname Petitt can be found in various spelling variations, including Petit, Petitte, Petiti, Petitt, Petty, Petete, and Petitot.
Petit is also an anglicized version of the Dutch Pieters. Many Pieters immigrants settled in North America in the early 1600s, with common variants of Pieters being Peters, Pyters, Pieterse and Pietersz.
In Germany the surname Petitt has a somewhat different origin and can be anglicised as Pettin, Pettig, Pettigau, and Pettimann.
The standard English spelling of the surname Petitt can be found in the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada.
In conclusion, the surname Petitt has a variety of spellings, variants and surnames from different countries, all stemming from the Latin “petit” meaning “little”. Its most common spellings and variants are Petit, Petite, Petiti, Petitte, and Petty.
Famous people with the name Petitt
- Singaporean actress, singer, and model Tiffany Petitt
- George Petitt, English cricketer
- Composer and music professor Donald Petitt
- American hairstylist and makeup artist James Petitt
- MLB player Mark Petitt
- Movie producer and actor Bill Petitt
- NFL running back Philip Petitt
- Songwriter and record producer Robert Petitt
- British artist and musician Sally Petitt
- USA Paralympic swimmer T.J. Petitt
- American artist Emily Petitt
- Filipino figure skater Marielle Petitt
- Corinne Petitt, Driver Engineering Lead at Ridge Motorsports Park
- Canadian actor and singer Suzie Petitt
- American football linebacker and defensive end Ricky Petitt