LITTLE
Little is an English and Scottish surname of considerable antiquity, originating in the British Isles. The name derives from the Middle English word litel, which denotes “small” or “little”. In its earliest phase it functioned as a nickname, applied either to an individual of diminutive stature, to the younger member of a family, or to a person of modest means.
The surname appears in several of the earliest documentary sources. It is recorded in the Domesday Book, and a form of the name is found in the register of Old English by‑names for the county of Northamptonshire in the year 972, under the entry “Eadric Little”. Later medieval records include the feudal document of the Danelaw that mentions Lefstan Litle of Bury St Edmunds, and the Sussex Subsidy Tax rolls of 1296, which list a “Thomas Lytle”. These examples demonstrate the name’s long‑standing presence in England.
The medieval use of Little was not invariably literal. As illustrated by the legendary outlaw “Little John” from the Robin Hood tradition—a figure described as a giant—the epithet could be applied ironically to a person of great size. This suggests that the nickname may have possessed a broader semantic range, perhaps indicating a younger or subordinate status rather than physical dimensions alone.
Throughout the early modern period bearers of the surname emigrated to the New World. Parish records of Christchurch, Barbadoes, note the arrival of John and Jane Little in 1678, indicating the name’s diffusion beyond the British Isles. In contemporary times the surname is widespread across English‑speaking nations, and it survives in several orthographic variants, including Littell, Lytle and Lyttle.
In summary, the surname Little exemplifies a typical medieval nickname that has endured for over a millennium. Its origins in the Middle English lexicon, its appearance in seminal documents such as the Domesday Book, and its later geographical spread attest to its significance within the onomastic tradition of Britain.
Typical given names associated with the Little surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Mark
- Richard
- Robert
- Stephen
- Thomas
- William
Female
- Catherine
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Helen
- Jane
- Jennifer
- Karen
- Margaret
- Mary
- Sarah
- Susan
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 Little in...
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Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Little are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Hobnob.
There are approximately 25,227 people named Little in the UK. That makes it the 320th most common surname in Britain. Around 387 in a million people in Britain are named Little.
Surname type: Nickname
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Little
- Ralf Little - Actor, football player
- Natasha Little - Actress
- Samuel Little - American serial killer
- Kim Little - Association football midfielder, 2014 NWSL Golden Boot and Most Valuable Player
- Syd Little - Comedian
- Emma Little-Pengelly - Northern Irish politician
- Brian Little - Football player; football manager
- Mark Little - Football player
- Andrew Little - Football player
- Glen Little - Football player
- Greg Little - American basketball player
- Carlo Little - Rock and roll drummer (1938 to 2005)
- James Anthony Bernard Little - Singer
- Tasmin Little - Violinist
- Sam Little - Golfer
- Margaret Little - Psychoanalyst (1901 to 1994)
- Angela Little - Education specialist
- Ricky Little - Scottish football player
- Alan Little - Football player and manager
- Creag Little - Scottish football player
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.