Surname Botts - Meaning and Origin
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Botts: What does the surname Botts mean?
The surname Botts is of English origin and is derived from the Middle English word 'bott' meaning "wooded area with a stream". This surname is believed to have been taken on by an individual who lived next to or near such a wooded area with a stream. As a result, the surname Botts could have been a locational name, which refers to the geographical origin of the bearer.
Through the years, some variants of the surname Botts emerged, such as Bottas, Bott, Bottis, Bottes and Botz. In some cases, the addition of a second “t” indicates a connection between the surname's bearers and an earlier French family, as this variation was relatively more common in England during the Norman influences.
The surname Botts is still found in England today, although it is relatively uncommon. There is also a Botts family living in Virginia, which dates back to the 1600s and is believed to be the earliest settlement of the surname Botts in North America.
In addition, there are many people in various other countries around the world who have acquired the surname Botts through migration. It is not known how many people worldwide hold the surname Botts today, but it is likely that the number is in the thousands.
Order DNA origin analysisBotts: Where does the name Botts come from?
The last name Botts is fairly uncommon in the United States. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the last name is found among just 21 households in 2016. Botts is most common in the southeastern states of Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina, but is also found in West Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia, and Georgia. It is also found in select other parts of the U.S., but is much less common.
Its origins are somewhat mysterious, as there have been few substantive reports on its family tree throughout history. However, some reports suggest the surname has a centuries-old connection with Germany and Northern Europe.
It appears the last name has had more of an influence in certain areas of the south than elsewhere in the U.S. For example, there is a place called Botts Corner in Tennessee, which is a small unincorporated community in Roane County, and there is also a road in Lexington, Kentucky, called Botts Lane.
Finally, there is a famous Botts family in Kentucky, whose matriarch, Maggie Botts, was prominently featured in the New York Times Bestseller “Inheriting the Trade”. Despite its limited presence in the U.S., the last name Botts has had a substantial influence in the areas it’s found.
Variations of the surname Botts
The surname Botts is an Americanized spelling of the German surnames Bott and Botz. Other variants commonly found in American records include Bodt, Botz, Bottes, and Bodts.
The surname Botts is likely derived from the personal name Bodo, which was popular in medieval Germany. Bodo is thought to have been derived from the Old High German word ‘boto’, which meant ‘envoy or messenger’. It is also possible that these surnames developed from the Germanic root ‘Budina’, which means ‘victory’.
In some cases, Botts may be a patronymic name derived from the first name Bots or Bott. These first names were themselves derived from the Germanic root ‘Bodo’.
In the United States, it is typical to find the surnames Botts, Bodt, and Botz spelled interchangeably. In Germany and Austria, the surname Botts is more common.
Surnames which may be variants or spellings of the same origin as Botts include Bott, Bottes, Bodts, Boetss, Botetz, Bodz, Boettcke, and Botzsche. While these names may not be specifically related to Botts, they can all have a similar origin and similar meaning.
In addition, various anglicized versions of the name can be found in the United States. This includes the spelling Potts and variants such as Pott, Pottz, Potz, Putz, and Pudts. The latter variants may have developed from a Dutch origin.
Famous people with the name Botts
- Meredith Botts: is a US Paralympic Track athlete who competes in the T44 and T43 classification
- Josh Botts: is a professional baseball player in the Cleveland Indians organization
- Thomas Botts: is a former bishop of London
- John Botts: musician, educator, and politician, governor of North Carolina
- Stephen Botts: is an American actor, director, and producer
- Deanna Botts: is an American scientist and leader in cancer research
- Francis Botts: was an American naval officer and a Confederate blockade runner
- Vickie Botts: is an American nurse practitioner
- Kelly Botts: is an American basketball coach currently working at the University of Tennessee
- Galen Botts: is a Canadian film director and producer
- Peter Botts: is an Australian illustration artist
- David Botts: is an American attorney and Texas Supreme Court Justice
- Robert Botts: is an American politician and former mayor of Sandpoint, Idaho
- Charles Botts: is a computer scientist, author, and public speaker
- Morris Botts: was a British physicist and an authority on sound in air and water
- Shawn Botts: is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the San Francisco Giants
- Harvey Botts: is an American judge and former Michigan Supreme Court Justice
- Barbra Botts: is an American missionary, educator, and church planter