Surname Latta - Meaning and Origin
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Latta: What does the surname Latta mean?
The surname Latta is of Scottish origin. It derives from the Old Norse name "Hlǫða", a habitational name from a place so called in Ponteland, Northumberland. Its etymology is rooted in old personal names and Norse influence in Scotland and northern England during the Viking Age. The surname itself may also refer to a person from Lothians, a region in Scotland, involving a geographical or regional identifier. In some cases, it may also originate from the Gaelic term "leataoibh," meaning "muddy." Like many surnames, the exact lineage or meaning may vary based on individual family history, migration, or regional usage. However, it is commonly associated with the Scottish historical region of Lothian which covers most of the southern Scotland.
Order DNA origin analysisLatta: Where does the name Latta come from?
The surname Latta is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic word "Fhlat" which means "expansive place". It is believed that the first records of this surname appeared in Ayrshire, Scotland. The Latta family held a family seat in Ayrshire and played a significant role during the Middle Ages in shaping the nation. Variations of the surname include Lattie, Latty, Latta, and Lat.
Today, the surname Latta is common in the United States, predominantly in the South. It is also found in reasonable numbers in Australia, Canada, England, and to a lesser extent in New Zealand. However, its prevalence remains significant in Scotland due to its roots. Notably cities include Glasgow, Ayreshire and particularly in Lanarkshire, a historic county in the central Lowlands of Scotland.
It's important to note that surnames, such as Latta, evolved as a way to sort people into groups – by occupation, the place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics. Therefore, the frequency and geographic distribution of the surname can change over time.
Variations of the surname Latta
The surname Latta is often associated with Irish, Scottish, and North Italian origins. Variants and similar surnames of the same origins include Lattie, Latty, Lattey, Lata, Latto, Letta, Lette, and Laddie. There are also surnames with similar phonetic characteristics such as Latt, Lattaie, Lattao, and Lattau.
The name could be Anglicized from the Gaelic name "O Lachtnain" or "Mac Lachtnain," which would give several other variants including Loughnane, Loughnan, Loughney, and Laughnan. The name could also be Anglicized from the Gaelic name "O Flaithbheartaigh" which would have the variants Lavery, Flaherty, and O'Loughry.
It might also be derived from the Old Norse name "Hlǫða," the Old English "Hludda" or the Scottish surname "Lauder," each with their various spellings.
As with many surnames, regional differences, phonetic spellings during migration, literacy levels at the time of record keeping, and the influence of other languages can all result in a variety of spellings and related surnames for Latta.
Famous people with the name Latta
- Ashley Latta: Professional volleyball player and coach
- Bob Latta: American politician and Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio
- Les Latta: Canadian television broadcaster and former football player
- Nicole Latta: American figure skater
- Ken Latta: Canadian curler
- Ken Latta Jr.: Canadian curler
- Michael Latta: Canadian professional ice hockey player
- Mickey Latta: American baseball player
- Ryan Latta: American football player
- Tom Latta: American basketball player
- Vilayat Inayat Khan: Spiritual leader and author with the last name Latta before his name change.