CATT

The surname Catt is of English origin and appears to have been first recorded in the late 12th century. Its earliest known instance is Robert le Cat, dated 1167 in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk during the reign of King Henry I. Other early entries include Geoffrey Chat in “The Book of Seals” in Suffolk (1190), Margaret Kat in the Assize Court Rolls of Lincolnshire (1202) and Adam le Chat among the 1203 Pipe Rolls of Wiltshire.

The name derives from the Old English pre‑7th‑century word catt, meaning “a cat.” It was often employed as a nickname for an individual thought to possess cat‑like qualities such as agility, cunning or stealth. The surname may also have been given to someone who kept or cared for cats, or who was otherwise associated with them. In some cases, variations such as Catell, Caton and Katin could represent a pet‑form of the Anglo‑Norman female given name Cat(e)lin, an early French form of Catherine, ultimately deriving from the Greek Ratharas meaning pure.

Other possible origins relate to medieval occupations. From the Middle English catte meaning a cat, the surname has been interpreted as an occupational name for a herdsman or for someone who dealt in cattle, as well as for a cat‑seller. The widespread presence of cats in medieval households, and their frequent symbolic use in heraldry, contributed to the surname’s association with independence, stealth and mystery.

Over the centuries the spelling of the surname has varied, with documented forms including Cat, Catt, Catte, Chatt, Catton and Catell. Other, less common variants such as Caton, Cattell, Katt and Kattell also appear in regional records, reflecting phonetic and local influences.

Notable individuals bearing the surname include Michael Leigh Catt, known professionally as the British film director Mike Leigh, and Caroline (Carrie) Chapman Catt, a leading American suffrage campaigner. The surname is most commonly found in England and the United States, but it also occurs in Canada, Australia and New Zealand, largely as a result of emigration from the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Typical given names associated with the Catt surname

Male

• Anthony
• Christopher
• David
• Ian
• James
• John
• Michael
• Peter
• Richard
• Simon
• Stephen

Female

• Barbara
• Deborah
• Eileen
• Elizabeth
• Emma
• Helen
• Jacqueline
• Laura
• Margaret
• Patricia
• Sarah
• Susan
• Victoria

Similar and related surnames

Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.

How to communicate the surname Catt in...

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Morse

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Origin: English

Region of origin: British Isles

Country of origin: England

Religion of origin: Christian

Language of origin: English

Famous people named Catt

• Mike Catt - South African-English rugby union football player and coach
• Nathan Catt - Rugby union player
• Deidre Catt - Tennis player
• Anthony Catt - Cricketer (1933 to 2018)
• Alfred Catt - Australian politician (1833 to 1919)

Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.

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