Surname Davitt - Meaning and Origin

Davitt: What does the surname Davitt mean?

The last name Davitt is of Irish origin, and it means “son of David” in the Irish language of Gaelic. The name is derived from a combination of two Gaelic words – “Dabh” which means “son” and “Haidht” which means “David”. It is believed to be a variation of the surname Davudd or David.

Throughout history, the Davitt surname has been carried by both the major Irish tribes and by the many Norman-descended families in Ireland. The Gaelic version of the name is Deividh, and it was common in the provinces of Connacht and Munster.

The people with the last name Davitt usually hail from southwestern regions of Ireland, where many of the most powerful Irish clans had originated. In modern times, Davitt is also seen in the United Kingdom, particularly among people of Irish descent.

The Davitt name has become associated with many famous and influential people, from the nationalist and social reformer Michael Davitt to the actress Anne Davitt. Today, those with the Davitt last name are proud of their Irish heritage and the legacy of the many powerful people who bore the name throughout history.

Davitt: Where does the name Davitt come from?

The last name Davitt is common today mainly in Ireland and the United Kingdom. This surname is of Irish origin and was derived from the Gaelic name "Mac Daibhead," which means "son of David." It is also an Anglicized spelling of the Gaelic "Mac Daibhéid," which means "son of David." This surname is found primarily in the counties of Mayo, Sligo, and Dublin in Ireland.

It is also commonly found in Northern Ireland. In the 19th century, the Davitts were a well-known family who lived in Dublin and ran a number of businesses. However, the family began to spread out and emigrated to other lands.

Aside from Ireland and the United Kingdom, the Davitt surname has spread to Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and other parts of the world as a result of the Irish diaspora. In these countries, the surname is particularly common in cities and towns with large numbers of Irish people.

In general, people with the surname Davitt can trace their ancestry to Ireland and have likely descended from the same family. In modern times, the Davitt surname is recognisable in many places around the world and often represents a shared heritage of emigration and multiculturalism.

Variations of the surname Davitt

The surname Davitt is an anglicised form of two Gaelic surnames of Old Irish origin, which first appeared in the area that is now known as County Mayo in western Ireland. The two original surnames were ÓDuibhéidigh and MacDhubhchaidh. These surnames generally derived from the personal name Dubhéidigh meaning ‘black poet’.

The surname Davitt is the most common variant, though other variants and spellings can still be found, such as MacDuff, Duff, MacDuffy, Duffett and Drought. The forms MacDuff and MacDuffy were used in Scotland, whereas the surname Drought is an English variant of the Irish MacDhubhchaidh.

Variations of the surname Daughtrey, such as Dalhousie, Daveys, Davie, Davy, Davee, and Devey, may also sometimes be found; however they are unrelated to the Davitt surname, and it is believed they either derive from the Old French name Dauby, or the Old Norse name Dofri, both of which first came about in the 12th century.

Finally, in England and Wales there is a family of Davitt that originated from Devon in the 15th century, whose two main variants are the Davidge and Devedge.

Famous people with the name Davitt

• Mike Davitt: Irish politician and trade unionist.
• Maria Catharina Davitt: Swedish poet and journalist.
• Mo Davitt: Canadian politician, former Global Affairs Canada executive.
• Derval Davitt: Irish public relations consultant and television presenter.
• Mark Davitt: English football manager and former player.
• Emmett Davitt: Irish historian and professor emeritus of Maynooth University.
• Christian Davitt: Australian professional footballer.
• Mícheál Davitt: American Catholic priest and theologian.
• Ruthmore Davitt: American actress and writer.
• Maggie Davitt: Australian former netball player.
• Cyril Davitt: Irish former footballer who played for Bray Wanderers and Kilkenny City.
• Miles Davitt: Irish former rugby union player who played for Connacht and Samoa.
• Terence Davitt: American entrepreneur and brand strategist.
• Lilly Davitt: Irish-American Broadway actress and comedian.
• Donal Davitt: Irish actor and filmmaker.
• Martin Davitt: Irish-Canadian art director, construction coordinator, and production designer.
• Katie Davitt: American singer, actress, musician, and dancer.
• Patrick Davitt: American steam locomotive engineer.
• Quentin Davitt: Irish football manager and former player.
• Kieron Davitt: English professional footballer who plays for Rochdale.

Other surnames

Daviter