Litton
A surname taken from places called Litton, meaning someone who came from one of several English settlements of that name.
The #7,308 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 67,648 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Litton is a locational surname, originally used for someone who came from a place called Litton. The place-name is generally understood from Old English elements meaning “settlement” or “farm” associated with a hillside or slope, though the exact local form can vary by place. The historical dictionaries list several English Littons, including places in Somerset, Dorset, Derbyshire, and Yorkshire.
History
Medieval records show forms such as de Litton and de Lytton, typical of surnames formed from place of origin. Because there are several English places with this name, the surname could arise independently in more than one family line. The related spelling Lytton also became established, and the surname is best known today through the aristocratic Lytton family.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The surname can point to several different English villages rather than just one family seat, which makes it a classic example of independent locational origins.
From the historical record
“called Littleton, in that coimty. LITTON. Parishes, &c., in cos. Somerset, Dorset, Derby, and York. LIVELY. From natm-al disposition. LIVEjMOEE. The same as Livermore. LIVENS. In early Dutch records (m the United States) are found such names as Yei- — i.e. Yrouwe, Belenszoon, Ver Lieven- zoon — Dame Belen's sou.…”
— Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom