Surname McNitt - Meaning and Origin

McNitt: What does the surname McNitt mean?

The surname McNitt is of Scottish origin, derived from an occupational name referring to dairy farmers or cattle farmers. The term "Mac or Mc" signifies 'son of', so the name McNitt could imply 'son of the dairy farm owner or cattle farmer'. It is first found in Ayrshire where the family held a family seat from early times. The surname also has variant spellings which include MacNaught, MacNutt, MacNitt, MacKnight and others. Like many surname origins, meanings can alter or adapt through time and migrations causing hybrid versions or anglicized iterations of the original surname. Nonetheless, the connection to farming remains a core feature of its meaning. Notable figures with this surname include Ira McNitt, a well-known businessman from Quihi, Texas, and Charles McNitt, a Lieutenant Governor of New York in the mid-1700s. The family crest typically features a crowned lion passant — a common heraldic symbol generally denoting bravery, nobility, and royalty.

McNitt: Where does the name McNitt come from?

The surname McNitt is of Scottish origin. It is an anglicized form of the Gaelic name "Mac Naught", which means the son of Naught. The Naught here traces its roots back to "Neacht", an old Gaelic personal name. Notably, there's a Clan Macnaughten in Scotland, from which the name could have been derived.

This surname made its way to various countries through immigration, especially during and after the Scottish Diaspora in the 18th and 19th centuries, where many Scots were either forced or chose to emigrate to destinations across North America, Australia and New Zealand.

Today, the surname McNitt remains fairly uncommon globally. It's most commonly found in the United States, possibly due to the Scottish and Irish immigrants who brought the name with them. Its presence can also be seen to a lower extent in countries like Canada and Australia. However, even within these countries, it's not a common surname. Due to the nature of migration patterns, it could be more frequently encountered in areas with high concentrations of people with Scottish descent.

Variations of the surname McNitt

The surname McNitt is of Scottish origin, originating from an ancient Dalriadan-Scottish nickname for a person with a harsh or severe temperament. It is a translation of Gaelic Mac an Mheidid, derived from "Mac" meaning son of, "an" the, and "Mheidid" judge.

Different variations and spellings of the surname McNitt may include McNett, McNutt, McNitt, McNaught, McNight, McKnight, McNaughton, MacKnight, MacNutt, MacNitt, MacNought, MacNeight, MacNecht, MacNechten, and MacNeight.

The variants and spellings of the McNitt surname have expanded and changed over time due to factors such as immigration, phonetic spelling, and regional dialects. During immigration, officials often anglicized or simplified family names - which has led to the different variants. Moreover, spellings often shifted according to the phonetic sound, further multiplying the versions of the surname.

These surnames are typically associated with clans or larger family groups within Scotland, so they may share a common heritage or familial connection. Hence, someone with a variant or different spelling of the surname may have a lineage that traces back to the same Scottish clan. It's always fascinating to explore family history with these variant surnames!

Famous people with the name McNitt

• Kristi McNitt: Former Head of Distribution Strategy and Operations at Google, currently an Operating Partner at Insight Venture Partners.
• Dusty McNitt: American Filmmaker and Photographer.
• Richard McNitt: American politician and lawyer who served as a Republican in the Oklahoma Senate from 1972-1996.
• Francie McNitt: American columnist and television host.
• Julieanne McNitt: American athlete and 2009 World Championship medallist in Archery.
• Robert McNitt: American sailor who won a silver medal in the 1960 Olympic Games.
• Chad McNitt: Former professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1996-2001.
• Lee McNitt: American politician, youth pastor, and election official.
• Cary McNitt: American fueled engineer and inventor best known for inventing the McNitt portable fuel tank.
• Jayme McNitt: Professional golf instructor and golf coach at the University of Kentucky.

Other surnames

McNite