PARROTT

Parrott is a surname of English provenance, predominantly encountered in the British Isles. The name is recognisable within the traditional patronymic and occupational naming systems that formed the backbone of medieval English onomastics.

The etymological source of the surname can be traced to the Middle English word perot, a term meaning “parrot.” It was most likely applied as a nickname to an individual who resembled a parrot in appearance or manner, or to someone who kept or trained such birds. This line of derivation is attested in contemporary documents of the period and is regarded as a reliable hypothesis by linguistic scholars.

Another significant derivation identifies Parrott as a diminutive of the given name Peter, which itself stems from the French name Pierre. The Norman conquest of England in 1066 introduced the French patronymic tradition, and the name Pierrot came to be understood as “Little Peter.” In France, Pierrot is commonly associated with the sparrow, a bird comparable to the English robin, and the name often carried affectionate connotations.

The surname has been recorded under a variety of spellings, including Parrot, Parrett, Parratt, Perott, Perett, and Perrat. These orthographic variants reflect regional pronunciation differences and the lack of standardised spelling in early modern England. In the United States, Parrott is the most frequently encountered form in contemporary records.

Evidence of the name’s antiquity is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where the earliest recorded spelling appears as William Peret of Suffolk. This entry confirms that the surname, in some form, was in use within the first two centuries following the Norman conquest.

Further documentary evidence includes the christening of Catherine Parrott at the Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Westminster, in 1556, and the marriage of Anne Parrott to John Mushel at St. Pancras Old Church, London, in 1686. Both instances illustrate the surname’s persistence throughout the early modern period.

In summary, the surname Parrott embodies a confluence of linguistic influences: a Middle English nickname derived from a bird, a diminutive form inherited from the Norman French patronymic system, and a series of orthographic variations that reflect the fluidity of English spelling before the modern age. Its survival from the 11th to the 18th centuries, evidenced by primary records, attests to its established place within the fabric of English nomenclature.

Typical given names associated with the Parrott surname

Male

• Andrew
• Christopher
• David
• Ian
• James
• John
• Mark
• Michael
• Richard
• Stephen

Female

• Elizabeth
• Emma
• Helen
• Jacqueline
• Julie
• Karen
• Lisa
• Margaret
• Patricia
• Rachel
• Sarah
• Stephanie
• 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 Parrott in...

Braille

⠏⠁⠗⠗⠕⠞⠞

Morse

.--..-.-..-.-----

Semaphore

Surname type: Diminutive

Origin: English

Region of origin: British Isles

Country of origin: England

Religion of origin: Christian

Language of origin: English

Famous people named Parrott

• John Parrott - Snooker player
• Cecil Parrott - Diplomat, translator, writer and scholar (1909 to 1984)
• Andrew Parrott - Conductor
• Ian Parrott - Composer (1916 to 2012)
• Thomas H. Parrott - Musician (1836 to 1899)

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.

Your comments on the Parrott surname