Surname Kitson - Meaning and Origin

Kitson: What does the surname Kitson mean?

The last name Kitson is of English origin, and is believed to have several possible meanings. The most commonly accepted meaning is that it is derived from an Old English personal name made up of the elements ‘cyse’ meaning “cup” or “large bowl” and ‘tun’ meaning “enclosure” or “settlement”. It could therefore refer to an individual named “Cup Enclosure”.

Other explanations for the origin of Kitson include being derived from an old Anglo-Saxon name “Cataline”, which means “the powerful warrior”; or, that the name is derived from a pet form of the name Christopher.

The earliest known recording of the name is William de Kechetun from the Domesday Book in 1086. By this time, the surname was established in the counties of Lincolnshire, Lancashire and York.

The Kitson family has contributed many notable figures to English history over the centuries, including the member of parliament Sir Thomas Kitson and the former admiral of the fleet Sir Henry Kitson. The Kinsons have also been decentralized across the world, settling in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Overall, the last name Kitson is believed to either be derived from an Old English name, or of German roots, and is connected to many notable historical figures. Today it continues to be a popular surname across the English diaspora.

Kitson: Where does the name Kitson come from?

The last name Kitson is most commonly seen in the United Kingdom, particularly in England. It is even more common in some counties, including East Norfolk, West Essex, Essex, and Suffolk. Although it is not as common in other countries, there are still a few cases of Kitson families living in Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and the United States.

Historically, many families with the Kitson surname have had strong ties to East Norfolk, where the first records of the Kitson name can be found. The earliest recorded spelling of the surname was found in East Anglia in 1559, with Peter Kytson recorded as a juror in Suffolk. High-profile Kitsons include Sir Edward Kitson, 1st Baronet, who was born in 1828 in East Anglia and became a noted architect in London.

Today, the Kitson surname is still most commonly found in East Norfolk. However, many people with the surname can be found in other areas of England and further afield, reflecting the kitson family’s connection to emigration from the UK.

Despite this, the Kitson surname remains most common in the UK, with over 8,000 people with the surname living in the country in 2019. With East Anglia said to be a ‘centre of Kitson localization’, Kitson is most commonly heard in that part of the country, particularly in East Norfolk and the surrounding counties.

Variations of the surname Kitson

Kitson is a patronymic surname of English origin that comes from the given name Kit, a pet form of Christopher. The most common variants of the surname are Kytson and Ketson, and alternatively, it may sometimes appear as Kiteson, which is mostly used in North America.

Several spellings of Kitson were found in early English historical records from the 1700s and 1800s, including Ketson, Keatson, Kytson, Kiterson, Kiteson, Kytsonn and Kitsten. In addition, Kitson can be seen in records of different ages as Kirson, Kyterson and even Kuston.

Other surnames related to Kitson are Kesten, Kesson, Kissen, Kisten, Kiston and Kistrin, which are derived from the given name Kit. The surname is also a habitational name from places named Kitson or Keyseton.

Kitson is an unusual surname and is rarely found outside Britain. It is most common in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, but a few bearers can be found in Canada, the United States and other parts of the world. It is most common in the North West region of England, and is most frequently found in Yorkshire, Lancashire, Cheshire and Staffordshire.

Famous people with the name Kitson

• Bas Kistson: Dutch professional footballer
• Carlton Kitson: songwriter and producer from Jamaica
• Tim Kitson: British air traffic controller
• Louise Kitson: British tennis player
• Adam Kitson: New Zealand attorney
• Mark Kitson: British banker and philanthropist
• Iain Kitson: British sound designer and music producer
• Paul Kitson: British-Australian conservationist
• Lyall Kitson: British-Canadian composer
• David Kitson: British professor of medicine at King's College London

Other surnames

KaackKaacksteenKaadenKaajavaKaakKaakschliefKaardinKaardinenKaartinenKaavaKabacoffKabacovKabakKabakciKabakoffKabakovKabakowKabasakalKabeKabelKäbelKabellKabenKäberKäberichKäberleinKäbermannKabernagelKabesKabina