Surname Littel - Meaning and Origin
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Littel: What does the surname Littel mean?
The surname Littel is derived from the Middle English word "litel," which means "the little one" or "the younger". It was often used as a nickname for the youngest son in a family, distinguishing the younger from the elder. It may also signify a person of small stature. This surname belongs to the category of hereditary surnames, which are adopted based on common physical traits or the occupation of the original bearer. So Littel might have indicated a person's physical characteristics, familial relationship, or profession. Taken to the continent by the Normans in the year 1066, Littel is prevalent in France, England & Wales, and the Netherlands. Like many surnames, spellings evolved over centuries and variants of Littel include Little, Lyttle, Littel, and Litle among others.
Order DNA origin analysisLittel: Where does the name Littel come from?
The surname Littel is of German origin and is a derivative of the Old German word ‘lützel’, meaning 'small' or 'little'. It is often believed to be a descriptive or occupational surname referring to someone who was small in stature or possibly even the youngest of a family.
Over time, surnames evolved in spelling and presentation due to migrations and shifts in language, with Littel being one of its variations. Today, the surname is found in many parts of the world due to immigration, but it is still most prevalent in Germany, the United States, and to a lesser extent in the Netherlands and France. However, it is still generally quite a rare surname.
Please note that tracing the commonality and roots of a surname can be quite complex due to various factors such as migration and changing borders over time, so this interpretation of the surname Littel and its origins may not be fully comprehensive.
Variations of the surname Littel
The surname Littel can be traced back to Anglo-Saxon origins. Several variants and spellings have developed over centuries due to regional dialects and phonetic spellings. Variants include Little, Lyttle, Littell, Littel, Litel, Lytel, Lyttel, and Lytelle.
The names are primarily derived from the Old English term 'lytel', meaning 'small' or 'insignificant', often used as a nickname for one who was small in stature or possibly to denote the younger of two bearers of the same personal name.
The Little surname was first found in Oxfordshire, England, where the family had been residing since ancient times. A variant of the name, Lyttle, is more commonly found in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The surname also made its way to the United States and Canada during the numerous waves of migration.
It's also common to find different spellings of the surname within the same family in historical documents due to inconsistencies in spelling standards until more recent times. The several variants and spellings make genealogy research a challenging task for the descendants of these families.
Famous people with the name Littel
- John Littel: American president Abraham Lincoln’s law partner
- Jeff Littel: Olympic athlete and all-time record holder for the triple jump
- Florence Littel: mother of long-time congressman Bob Littel
- Victor Littel: professional golfer and winner of the PGA Championship
- Joanna Littel: well-known actress, writer, and director
- Andrew Littel: internationally acclaimed architect of many iconic structures
- Joe Littel: stuntman and actor, known for his daring stunts
- Mary Littel: celebrated singer and songwriter
- Alexander Littel: one of the premier Scottish antiquarians
- Robert Littel: first American director of the Central Intelligence Agency