Little Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Little last name means, where the surname began and where it was first recorded.
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Meaning and origin of the Little last name
Meaning of the Little last name: small, a nickname. Little is a nickname for a small man, or sometimes, with medieval humour, for a very tall one, from Old English lȳtel. The word was also used as a personal name, Lytel, and le Lytle appears in documents of the 1200s. The name is common in northern England, especially Cumberland, and in the Scottish Borders, where the Littles of Meikledale in Eskdale were a notable riding family of the West March in the 16th century. Many Border Littles moved to Ulster, and the spellings Lyttle and Lytle are typical there. In the United States, Little families were early settlers in New England and Pennsylvania.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Little name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Little name in Scotland. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, England and Northern Ireland; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
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Little name FAQ
What does the Little name mean?
Small, a nickname. Common variants include Lyttle, Lytle, Littel.
Where does the Little surname come from?
It originates in Scotland, and is also found in the United States, England and Northern Ireland.
Is there a Little coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Little crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Little coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: George F. Black, The Surnames of Scotland (New York Public Library, 1946); Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford); US Census Bureau 2010.