PETTY

Petty is a surname of English origin that has been documented since the late 12th century. It is found throughout the British Isles, with a particular concentration in England and a notable presence in Scotland.

The name derives from the Middle English word petit, itself borrowed from the Old French petit, meaning "small" or "little". As a surname it would have originally served as a descriptive nickname for a person of diminutive stature or of a lower social standing. It could also have been applied to someone who held a minor role within a community or occupation.

In medieval record, the surname was used to distinguish the younger of two individuals bearing the same given name, as in the example of Walter le Petiit in the Wiltshire Assize Rolls of 1249. The use of the element petit is also attested in other surnames such as Walter Petitclark (1304, Gloucestershire) and John Petijohan (1327, Sussex).

The earliest surviving instance of the family name is that of William Petie, recorded in the “Feet of Fines” of Nottinghamshire in 1198, during the reign of King Richard the Lionheart (1189–1199). Over time the spelling varied considerably, producing forms such as Petty, Pettie, Petit, Petyt, Pettitt and Pittet.

In Scotland, early medieval references include Fergus de Pety of the parish of Fyvy, who was excommunicated in 1382, and Master Duncan Petit, also rendered Petyt, who served as archdeacon of Glasgow in 1395, indicating that the surname was established beyond England by the late 14th century.

Marital evidence from the late sixteenth century records the union of John Petty and Margaret Rogers at St. Dunstan's in the East, London, on 22 June 1568, illustrating the continued use of the name in ecclesiastical records.

A coat of arms granted to the Pettys of Warwickshire is described as a shield divided quarterly in gold (gules) and blue (azure), with a green (vert) bend bearing three gold martlets. This heraldic device provides a visual identifier for the family in historical documents.

In sum, the surname Petty has a well‑documented history rooted in a descriptive nickname of Old French origin. It has been maintained through a consistent set of spelling variants and appears in a range of legal, ecclesiastical and heraldic records across England and Scotland.

Typical given names associated with the Petty surname

Male

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

Female

• Barbara
• Deborah
• Elizabeth
• Emma
• Helen
• Jacqueline
• Jane
• Julie
• Margaret
• Nicola
• Patricia
• 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 Petty in...

Braille

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Morse

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Semaphore

Surname type: Location or geographical feature

Origin: English

Region of origin: British Isles

Country of origin: England

Religion of origin: Christian

Language of origin: English

Famous people named Petty

• Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty - Trinidad and Tobago-born rapper, singer and actress
• Tom Petty - American musician (1950 to 2017)
• Lori Petty - Actress, film director, screenwriter
• William Petty - Scientist, philosopher, statistician and economist (1623 to 1687)
• Kate Petty - (1951 to 2007)
• Suzy Petty - Field hockey player
• Philip Petty - (1840 to 1917)

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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