Surname Meat - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
Meat: What does the surname Meat mean?
The last name Meat is an English surname of Norman origin. Historically, it was an occupational surname referring to individuals who worked as butchers or were involved in the business of dealing in meat, either as a job or as a commercial activity. It can also derive from a nickname given to somebody who was considered to have an aggressive or domineering manner, a reference to the phrase ‘tough as old meat'.
The derivation of Meat as a surname may also have a localised association with a number of places in England where the name is recorded. In particular, two places in Yorkshire - Meathill and Metters House - have been suggested. In addition, Meat in some instances is a linguistic variation of the surname Mead, a name with various ancient associations in both English and Norse cultures.
Meat is relatively rare as a surname and is found mainly in England, though there are some associated families found in other parts of the world, particularly in the USA, Canada and Australia. People with the name Meat today may take pride in their family history and connections. They may also be rightly proud of the entrepreneurial spirit of their forebears in taking the challenge of meat-related commerce in the pre-industrial era.
Order DNA origin analysisMeat: Where does the name Meat come from?
The last name Meat is not a particularly common name today, but it can be found in England, Wales, Canada, the United States and South Africa. The name probably originated from the Middle English word meate, meaning ‘meat’ or ‘food’. In the UK, Meat is an uncommon name predominantly found in the counties of Devon, Worcestershire, Cheshire and Cornwall. In the US, it can be found mainly in the southern states of North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia and Arkansas. As far as Canada goes, Meat is primarily a Nova Scotia name.
The name has also been linked to migrations from regions such as Germany, Sweden, Scotland and Ireland, where it was more widely used in the past. This could explain why it can also be found in countries such as Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
Meat is an unusual last name and it is likely to have been changed or misspelled on more than one occasion throughout the centuries, which could explain why it is not particularly common today.
Variations of the surname Meat
The surname Meat is an Anglo-Saxon name of Old English origin. The variant spellings of the surname Meat include Mait, Maite, Maithe, Mata, Mathe, and Mate. It is sometimes found with a final 's' as in Meats.
The surname Meat is a patronymic name derived from the Old English given name Mate, a Medieval given name of Germanic origin that was often used as a personal byname for someone named Mathilda. It came from the Germanic element mād, meaning 'courage' or 'power'. It was also used as a nickname for someone who was brave or powerful.
The given name Mate is also found recorded in medieval documents in other variants, such as Maet, Methe, Mathe and Matheu. These later evolved to become surnames, such as Mata, Matthew and Matthies.
The surname Meat can also be found recorded under other surnames such as Mutt, Mote, Mott and Motte. It probably originated as a nickname for someone who acted in an excitable manner since the words mutt and motte are both associated with enthusiasm.
In Scotland, the surname Meat is also known as Mait. This variant of the surname is an anglicised version of the Scottish Gaelic MacMaghaidh, or 'son of Magaidh', which implies that it was of Scottish origin.
In some cases, the surname Meat can be found as a corruption of the Irish name Mór. This was an anglicised version of Gaelic O'Maidh, and a patronymic translation of the Irish given name Mael. Mael was another version of the personal byname Mate and was used in Ireland as early as the 12th century.
Famous people with the name Meat
- Herb Melton:- American country music singer and guitarist
- Tobin Meat:- Australian artist
- Austin Meat:- American photographer
- Bryant Meats:- English entertainer
- Piers Meat:- British actor
- Mortimer Meat:- American author
- Lawrence Meats:- American actor
- Piers Meaty:- British actor
- Pam Meats:- Canadian author
- Kevin Meat:- American musician
- Nigel Meat:- British composer
- Gary Meat:- Canadian songwriter
- Mark Meat:- American vocalist
- Trevor Meats:- Canadian actor
- Rob Meats:- American comedian
- John Meats:- English actor
- Eric Meat:- British composer
- Dwight Meat:- American singer and songwriter
- Kevin Meats:- American actor
- Charles Meat:- American vocalist