Summary

A surname of English origin, Pettit is derived from the medieval personal name 'Petit', meaning small or little. It was commonly given to someone who was small in stature or had a youthful appearance. The surname has a long history and can be traced back to the 13th century.
There are
19004
Pettits in the USA
Pettit is the
1892nd
most common last name in the USA

Historical figures and celebrities called Pettit

DanielPettit

Daniel Pettit was an American politician who served as a member of the New York State Assembly and later as a judge.

FredricMarch

Fredric March Pettit was an American actor known for his roles in movies like 'Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' and 'The Best Years of Our Lives,' for which he won an Academy Award.

JamesPettit

James Pettit was an Irish-born British diplomat and politician who served as ambassador to several European countries and played a role in international negotiations.

JohnPettit

John Pettit was an American lawyer and politician who served as a United States Senator from Indiana and was known for his speeches on constitutional issues.

MaryPettit

Mary Pettit was an American educator who worked to improve education for African Americans in the South after the Civil War.

RichardPettit

Richard Pettit was a British-born American soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War and later became a prominent landowner and politician.

RobertPettit

Robert Pettit was an American professional basketball player who played for the Syracuse Nationals and the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA.

ThomasPettit

Thomas Pettit was a Canadian politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada and later as a judge.

TimothyPettit

Timothy Pettit is an American scientist and engineer who has made significant contributions in the field of robotics and artificial intelligence.

WilliamPettit

William Pettit is an American geneticist and medical researcher known for his work in the field of human genetics and the study of genetic disorders.

Pettit Genealogy

OriginsThe surname 'Pettit' is of French origin, derived from the word 'petit,' meaning 'small' or 'little.' It was likely used as a nickname for someone who was small in stature.
Geographic DistributionThe surname 'Pettit' is most common in the United States, particularly in states like New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. It is also found in smaller numbers in the United Kingdom and Canada.
VariationsVariations of the surname 'Pettit' include 'Petit,' 'Pettet,' 'Pettitt,' 'Petitjean,' 'Petitpas,' 'Petitpierre,' 'Petitto,' 'Petito,' 'Petitjeans,' and 'Petitclerc.'
Migration and ImmigrationThe name 'Pettit' was likely brought to the United States by French and French-Canadian immigrants. It may have also been anglicized from similar French surnames during immigration.