SCOTTING
The surname Scotting is found primarily within the British Isles and carries a distinctly Anglo‑Scottish heritage. It is recorded in both England and Scotland, reflecting the close historical ties between the two peoples.
Its earliest known derivation is from the personal name Scott. This name itself comes from the Old English word scotti, which denoted a Gael, and later came to signify an Irishman or a person from Scotland. Consequently, the original bearer of the name was likely identified as a person of Scottish origin or descent.
Over time, the surname evolved into a patronymic form meaning “son of Scott.” This development is typical of many English surnames, in which the suffix attached to a given name indicates lineage. Thus, a Scotting would literally be a descendant of someone known as Scott.
Another possible source of the name is locational. It may be a variant of Scotton, an English place name found in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire. The placename is composed of the Old English element scott and the suffix tun, meaning homestead or village. Records such as the Saxon Diplomatic Codex list a place called “Scottun” as early as 1060, while the Domesday Book records “Scottune” and “Scotone” in 1086.
In Anglo‑Saxon usage, the surname could also arise from the personal name Scott combined with the suffix -ing, meaning “people of” or “followers of.” In this sense, Scotting would translate as the tribe or followers of Scott, indicating a group identity rather than an individual lineage.
Early documentary evidence for the surname appears in the mid‑sixteenth century. The first recorded spelling is that of Rychard Skolton, who married Elizabeth Thompson on 7 May 1543 in York, during the reign of King Henry VIII. Other contemporary entries include the marriage of Jane Scotan to Henry Odingzells on 27 September 1563 in Coleby, Lincolnshire; the christening of Robert Scottinge on 26 December 1581 at St. Mary’s, Whitechapel, London; the christening of Elizabeth Skotting on 11 August 1584 at the same parish; and the marriage of Esther Scotting to Samuell Bodley on 5 June 1687 at St. James’, Duke’s Place, London.
In contemporary Britain, the surname remains a marker of genealogical connection to Scotland, either by direct descent or by ancestral settlement in regions such as Lincolnshire where Scottish migrants established communities. Its persistence in civil records over centuries attests to its established presence within the British naming tradition.
Typical given names associated with the Scotting surname
Male
- Alan
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- Dominic
- Garry
- Gary
- Ian
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Robert
- William
Female
- Claire
- Gemma
- Jane
- Jean
- Karen
- Kerri
- Lilly
- Lynsey
- Marion
- Nancy
- Pauline
- Susan
- Tracy
- Ursula
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 Scotting in...
Braille
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Morse
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Semaphore
There are approximately 266 people named Scotting in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around four in a million people in Britain are named Scotting.
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 Scotting
- Allen Scotting - 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.