Surname Keitt - Meaning and Origin

Keitt: What does the surname Keitt mean?

The last name Keitt is of Scottish origin and derived from the English surname Keith. The exact origin of the name is debated, however, some experts believe it is derived from a Brythonic (Ancient British or Celtic) root meaning ‘wood.’ Others believe it comes from the Old English ‘cyc’ meaning creek or channel.

The historical meaning of "Keith" is a meadow where cattle graze. It was likely that the surname Keitt derived from the name of such a meadow and was passed down through generations of families. During the mid-17th century Keiths were recorded throughout Scotland, with many Keitts living in rural Renfrewshire.

The name Keitt has spread throughout the United States due to immigration in the early 19th century. The Keitt family in the United States can be traced back to the mid-1800s, and many Keitts live in the South in states such as Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. Today, the name Keitt is still quite popular throughout the United States and Scotland.

Keitt is an interesting surname with a varied past and various meanings. It is an endearing family name, and those who bear it carry a special sense of heritage and tradition.

Keitt: Where does the name Keitt come from?

The last name Keitt is primarily found in the United States and parts of Canada today. It is especially common in the southern states of the United States, particularly in South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Keitt families can be found in cities including Atlanta, Birmingham, Nashville, and Raleigh, as well as small towns across the South. It is also common in major urban areas, such as New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles.

The name has origins in Scotland and Ireland, where it was likely an Anglicized version of various Irish-Gaelic surnames. It is clear that the name eventually found itself in the United States, where it spread with waves of immigrants throughout the years.

Keitt is not as common a name as it once was, but the Keitts who continue to live in the United States and Canada usually retain the pronunciation of their Irish and Scottish ancestors. Keitts may also still have a shared concern for one another, with cousins, in-laws, and distant relatives all over the southern states.

Variations of the surname Keitt

The Keitt surname is a patronymic name meaning descendant of Keith. Variants of the Keitt surname include Kiett, Eitt, Keyte, Kite, Kett, Kaite, Keyt, and Kyte. Patronymic surnames were created from the given name of the father of the original bearer, often by adding an ‘s’-sounding suffix to the name.

The Keitt surname may have originated in Scotland, where it may be derived from the personal name Keith. It is believed that this is derived from the Scottish Gaelic ceiteach meaning “wood or forest.” It could also have been derived from the Middle English “keit,” which means “battleworthatus or warlike.”

The spelling of the Keitt surname could have been altered over time due to the influence of regional dialects. It is not uncommon for spelling variations of surnames to exist in different regions, or even different countries. For example, in Scotland, the spelling of the surname could have been pronounced more like "kite," while in Ireland or other parts of the world, the spelling might have become more like "keyte" or "kyte."

The Keitt surname is found in both Scotland and Ireland. The spelling of the surname could also be different depending on the part of Ireland from which the person was from. In some cases, such as in the southeast part of the country, the spelling might be "Eitt", because this is a common pronunciation of the Gaelic equivalent in the area.

The Keitt surname is also found in England, where the spelling may be more like “Kiett” or “Kett.” Additionally, the surname is sometimes used as an Americanized form of various other Scottish, Irish, and Welsh surnames, such as Caet, Kaite, and Cade.

In general, the spelling of the Keitt surname reflects the region from which the family originates. As such, many different spellings can be found for the same origin. It is important to remember, however, that all variations of the Keitt surname have the same meaning and refer to the same origin.

Famous people with the name Keitt

• Isaiah Keitt (1834-1863), a Union Army captain and namesake of Fort Keitt, Virginia.
• Matthew Calbraith Butler (1836-1909), Confederate Major General known as "Keitt's little gamecock".
• Augustine Thomas Smythe Keitt (1853-1921), a former slave and Freedmen's Bureau official.
• Heyward A. Keitt (1889-1918), a World War I hero who died in action in France.
• Laurin Daniel Keitt (1925-2016), a leader in the civil rights movement.
• Adam Keitt (born 1969), an American country musician.
• Pierre Keitt (born 1980), a professional basketball player from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
• Michael Keitt (born 1982), an American football linebacker playing in the CFL.
• Chelsea Keitt (born 1987), an American singer-songwriter.
• Garrett Keitt (born 1991), a former professional baseball player.

Other surnames

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