Shattuck
An English surname of uncertain origin, probably a place-based name or a reduced form of an older name beginning with Chad- or Shad-.
The #6,494 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 59,056 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Nineteenth-century writers suggested several explanations for Shattuck, but none is certain. One proposal treats it as a corruption of an older name such as Chadock, with the first element ultimately linked to the personal name Chad. Another possibility is that it began as a local or topographic name, perhaps referring to a hollow, brook, or corner, though the evidence is not decisive.
History
The surname is well established in the United States, especially in New England, where it appears in early local records and family histories. Old genealogical writers also noted related spellings such as Shaddick and compared the name with forms like Chadock. The origin remains debated, so modern references usually treat it cautiously rather than as fully settled.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
A 19th-century commentator remarked that Shattuck was already a common name in the United States and linked it to a cluster of similar-looking surnames.
From the historical record
“1857 (L. 718, f. 115). The Stickney and Shattuck families have each had members named One, Two, Three, &c. I have met with Eldesta. Bev. Alpha Morton is settled at Acton. Omega was lately given as a Christian name in England; but it can never be known to parents that further blessings may not be sent them. A”
— Suffolk Surnames (3rd ed.)