Surname Little - Meaning and Origin
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Y. Little
read moreLittle: What does the surname Little mean?
The surname Little originated from the medieval nickname for men who were small, short, or diminutive in stature. Often, this nickname would be given ironically to very tall individuals as a form of jest. The term comes from the Old English "lytel" which directly translates to "small," though in some cases, it could also denote someone who was younger or lesser– used for differentiating between individuals of the same name such as father and son. Furthermore, the surname may have been applied in some circumstances as an affectionate nickname devoid of any reference to size. This surname is common in Scotland and the Scottish-English Border region. Over time, it has evolved into several variations such as Lyttle, Littel, or Littell.
Order DNA origin analysisLittle: Where does the name Little come from?
The surname Little is of Anglo-Saxon origin and emerged in the borders of Northumberland and Cumberland in Northern England, as well as in Scotland. It is derived from the Old English "lytel," meaning "small" or "of limited size," suggesting that it could have been used as a nickname for a small, short, or petite person. Variations of the surname include Lytle, Littel, and Littell.
Due to centuries of migration and emigration, the Little surname is widely dispersed around the world today. It is found most commonly in English-speaking countries such as the United States, England, Canada, and Australia. In the United States, for instance, Little is ranked as the 233rd most common surname. The highest concentration of people with the Little surname is found in Northern Ireland, followed by Scotland and then England. In Scotland, the Little surname is most common in the region of Dumfries and Galloway. Despite its origins in Northern England, however, the Little surname is now most common in Northeast England, particularly in Tyne and Wear and Northumberland.
Variations of the surname Little
The surname Little has a number of variant spellings and related surnames stemming from its origin. As a surname of English and Scottish origin, it was primarily descriptive, given to individuals who were small in stature or younger members of a family or clan.
The most straightforward variant spellings of Little include: Littell, Littill, Litel, Lytel, and Lyttle. Other variants include terms such as Littleboy, Littlepage, Littlefair, or Littlewood, which represent a combination of the surname and another descriptive term.
In terms of Irish translations and variants, "Lytle" and "Ó Beagáin" have been used to represent Little. Names such as "Littlejohn" can also be attributed to the same origin, containing the addition of a first name to the initial surname.
As a word, "little" can be found in other languages, leading to several cross-cultural surname variations. Leutwein is a German version, while Petit represents a French parallel. Other potentially related surnames on a global scale would include names that translate to "small" or "little" in their respective languages.
However, it's essential to note that connections between some of these surnames may not be direct and could also represent independent family lines.
Famous people with the name Little
- Jean Little: a renowned Canadian author.
- Rich Little: a famous Canadian-American impressionist and voice actor.
- George Little: an American actor known for his role in "Stuart Little" film series.
- Cleavon Little: an American stage and film actor, known for his role in "Blazing Saddles".
- Malcolm Little: the real name of Malcolm X, an influential African American leader.
- Lucas Neff: the American actor who played ‘Jimmy Little’ in sitcom "Raising Hope."
- Bow Wow (Shad Gregory Moss): an American rapper, who was earlier known as Lil' Bow Wow and used the word "Little" as a way to express his young age when he started his career.
- Jason Little: an Australian rugby player.
- Ryan and Adam Little: both are American film directors.
- Nicole "Snooki" LaValle: an American reality TV star who was previously known as Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi; the character she portrayed in "Jersey shore" was called 'Little Snooki'.
- Brian Little: an English former football player and manager known for his association with Aston Villa. Please note, some of these individuals incorporated the word "Little" as part of a stage name or character role.