LOTT
Lott is an English surname of medieval origin that can be found throughout the British Isles. The name is recorded in a variety of spellings—Lott, Lote, Lotte, and Lots—and is generally regarded as belonging to a Christian tradition.
The most widely accepted derivation of the surname is from the medieval personal name Lot, taken from the biblical character who was the nephew of Abraham. The Hebrew word lot has been interpreted as meaning “veil” or “covering,” a meaning that may have been carried over into the English context. An alternative derivation links Lott to the Old English word hlot, which meant “lot” or “portion.” This second possibility suggests a topographic or locational origin, describing a person who lived on a piece of land that had been divided or allotted.
Evidence of the surname dates back to the 12th century. The earliest recorded spelling is Alwin Loth, dated 1162 in the Pipe Rolls of Kent during the reign of King Henry I, a monarch known as “The Builder of churches.” By the late 13th century the name appears in a number of administrative records: William Lot is listed in the Hundred Rolls of landowners in Suffolk in 1275, and Richard atte Lote is recorded in the subsidy tax rolls of Sussex in 1296. Later, parish registers give further attestations: John Lott married Margaret Lee on 16 July 1590 at St. John’s, Hackney, London, and Richard Lot was christened on 28 October 1610 at St. Michael’s, Bassishaw.
In addition to the English sources, the surname has been associated with French influence. It has been suggested that the name was introduced to Britain by knights who returned from the Crusades in the 12th century, carrying with them the Hebrew personal name of Lot that had become popular in Northern France at the time. The name may also be an aphetic form of a range of names that contain the diminutive suffix -lot (for example Allot, Amelot, Emelot, Elliot), or it may reflect a pre‑7th‑century nickname for someone holding an allotted share of land, drawing on the same Old English root hlot.
Throughout the medieval period the surname remained relatively uncommon, but its early documentary evidence demonstrates a clear and persistent presence in England. The variations in spelling and the scattered yet notable records attest to its standing within the medieval social fabric, particularly in regions such as Suffolk, Sussex, Kent, Hackney, and Bassishaw.
Overall, the surname Lott exemplifies the complex layering of linguistic, religious, and societal influences that characterise many English family names, combining biblical heritage, Old English linguistic roots, and the historic movement of peoples during the Crusading era.
Typical given names associated with the Lott surname
Male
- Andrew
- David
- James
- John
- Jonathan
- Martin
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Richard
- Stephen
Female
- Caroline
- Deborah
- Elizabeth
- Jacqueline
- Jennifer
- Julie
- Karen
- Margaret
- Mary
- Nicola
- Sarah
- Susan
- Tracey
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 Lott in...
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There are approximately 1,902 people named Lott in the UK. That makes it roughly the 4,388th most common surname in Britain. Around 29 in a million people in Britain are named Lott.
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Lott
- Pixie Lott - Singer-songwriter, actress
- Felicity Lott - Soprano
- Tim Lott - Author
- Barbara Lott - Actress (1920 to 2002)
- Eric J. Lott - Theologian and missionary to India
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.