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Elliot Family History

INTRODUCTION

This interesting surname has a number of possible origins. Firstly, it may derive from the medieval given name "Elis" the normal vernacular form of "Elijah" meaning "Jehovah is God", plus the diminutive suffix "ot". It may also be from the Middle English given name "Ely(a)t", which represents at least two Olde English pre 7th Century personal names which have fallen together; "Athelgeat" (male), composed of the elements "athel" noble and "Geat" a tribal name, and "Athelgyth" (female), composed of the elements "athel" and "gyth" a battle. In Scotland, the name derives from the Olde English given name "Aelfweald", "aelf", an elf and "weald", a ruler, or as an Anglicized form of the Gaelic surname "Elloch" or "Eloth", a topographical name for a "dweller by a mound", from the Gaelic "eileach", a dam, mound or bank...

SURNAME

Elliott (Variants: Elliot, Eliott, Eliot, Ellett, Ellyatt)

An English relationship name that may have been confused with Aylett and similar variants may have been absorbed into Elliott. In Scottish, Elliott was a derivative for Ellwood, which although co-existed, also became absorbed and confused with one another.

In English, although also a medieval given name, Elliott is from a pet form of Ellis.

Also interpreted as 'the son of Elias', from Elye (English, Elias), diminutive Elyot.

From Old French meaning “Little Elias” (Elias).

Early Bearers of the surname include: William Elyot, 1257 in Assize Rolls (Somerset); William Eliot, 1327 in Subsidy Rolls (Sussex); Johannes Eleyot, 1381 in Poll Tax (Saintbury, Gloucs); Thomas Elyot, 1451 in Feet of Fines (Oxon); Robert Ellyot, Phillippe Elliot, 1551 in Parish Registers (Hunsdon, Herts).

In 1891 census, the total occurrences for England and Wales were 28,422 and 457 in Scotland. In 1881, Devon was recorded as a top county for the surname with 1,181 occurrences. A top parish in the county was Plymouth St Andrews with 114 occurrences along with Abbots Kerswell that was reported as Elliott being the top surnames by occurrences.

In 1881, the most common Elliott occupation in the UK was Coal Miner. Coal Miner, Farmer and Agricultural Labourer were the top 3 reported jobs worked by Elliott. A less common occupation for the Elliott was Labourer.

Richard Elliott, an English convict, was transported aboard the "Albion" on 21 September 1826, settling in New South Wales, Australia.

Samuel Elliott, an English convict from Middlesex, was transported aboard the "Agamemnon" 22 April 1820, settling in New South Wales, Australia.

The noted of the surname, Sir Roger James Elliott FRS (1928-2018), was a British theoretical physicist from Derbyshire. He specialised in the magnetic, semiconductor, and optical properties of condensed matter. Elliott also served as Chief Executive of Oxford University Press from 1988 until 1993.

1881, 1891 Census

1881 Census in Kent

Dictionary of American Family Homes, P Hanks OUP 2003

Homes of Family Names in Great Britain, H.B. Guppy, London 1890

The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, P.Hanks, Coats, McClure OUP 2016

1860 Lower, Mark A Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom, London: J.R Smith. Public Domain

1857 Arthur, William An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. New York: Sheldon, Blakeman. Public Domain

https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/albion/1826

https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/agamemnon/1820

J.M.P