Kittrell
A surname probably of English origin, likely from a place-name or an older personal name that was later reshaped in spelling.
The #7,987 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 74,576 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Kittrell is most likely an English surname that began as a locational name, probably referring to someone from a place called Kitterell, Kittrell, or a similar-sounding settlement or estate name. In many cases like this, the first element may ultimately go back to a personal name or a descriptive local feature, though the exact original place behind Kittrell is not certain. The modern spelling reflects later variation and simplification rather than a single fixed medieval form.
History
The name is relatively uncommon and is especially associated today with the United States, where it appears as a stable family surname. Like many surnames of uncertain local origin, it likely underwent spelling variation after migration and record-keeping by clerks. There is no single universally accepted derivation, so modern references usually treat it as an English surname of uncertain exact source.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Because the name is uncommon and its early forms are irregular, genealogists often have to trace Kittrell through family records rather than rely on a single neat dictionary origin.