Surname Lyttle - Meaning and Origin

Lyttle: What does the surname Lyttle mean?

The surname Lyttle is believed to have Anglo-Saxon origins and is thought to be a topographic name for someone who lived on a slope or hillside. It comes from the Old English root word 'hlith', which means 'slope'. It could also possibly be a locational surname relating to several locations in England, such as "Little" in Hertfordshire or "Lytchett" in Dorset, or a descriptive term for someone of small stature. Names with similar meanings in other ethnicities or languages include Klein (German), Petit (French), and Maly (Polish). This reveals about the practice of surnames being used as markers of physical characteristics, professions or geographic locations. Like many surnames, variations in spelling can be found over centuries and across regions, Lyttle can also be seen as Little, Lytle, Littell among others. The migration of people over the centuries has also led to the surname being found in several different countries around the world.

Lyttle: Where does the name Lyttle come from?

The surname Lyttle is of Scottish origin and is a diminutive derivative of the Old English word "lytel", which means ‘small’ or ‘short.’ It was often used as a nickname for a person who was small in stature or for the younger of two bearers of the same personal name, much like "Junior" is used today. The name made its way to Ireland during the 17th century, when many Scottish families were settled in Ulster as part of the Plantation of Ulster.

Today, the name Lyttle is more commonly found in Northern Ireland, specifically in Counties Antrim and Down, and to a lesser extent, Country Tyrone. Nevertheless, as a result of migration over time, you can find the surname in many English-speaking countries including Scotland, England, the United States, Canada, and Australia. Notably, the different geopolitical histories of these places contributed to various spellings of the surname including Little, Littel, Lytle, and Lyttle.

Variations of the surname Lyttle

The surname Lyttle has numerous variants and related spellings that morphed over time due to regional accents, literacy levels and other factors. Some of the known phonetic variations of this surname include Little, Littel, Littell, Lyttle, Liddle, Lytel, Lyte, Litle, Lite and Lettle.

These variants could have been influenced by the Old English word "lytel," meaning small or insignificant, or by locational names from places such as Little in Suffolk, or Lytle or Liddle in Scotland.

Surnames sharing the same or similar origin with the Lyttle surname are Littler and Littlejohn. Root variants include the Dutch name Luttel and the German name Lützel reflecting the same meaning of "small" or "little."

Each of these versions has further deviations in different parts of the world. Regional and dialectal influences contributed to these variances, as people often spelled their names phonetically in times when literacy was not widespread. These factors mean that the exact origin and lineage of the surname can sometimes be hard to trace. Regardless of the variant used, these names all are likely to share common ancestors somewhere along the lineage.

Famous people with the name Lyttle

• Danny Lyttle: American fullback in the NFL from 1974-1984.
• Lyttle Frye: professional boxer from the United States who competed in the 1920s.
• Eric Lyttle: Scottish professional football player who most recently played as a defender for Motherwell.
• Joe Lyttle: American jazz pianist and composer.
• Christopher Lyttle: Member of the Legislative Assembly of Northern Ireland representing the East Antrim constituency.
• Katrina Lyttle: Scottish international cricketer.
• Abbie Lyttle: English middle-distance runner and former Junior World Champion.
• Randy Lyttle: American former Nationally Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach.
• Terrence Lyttle: Irish Gaelic footballer and manager.
• Dennis Lyttle: former professional basketball player who stands at 6 ft 7 in.
• Shelly Lyttle: American professional wrestler affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance.
• John Lyttle: English footballer who played as a defender for numerous football teams in the 1970s.
• Michael Lyttle: American professional 3D artist and photographer.
• Ed Lyttle: New Zealand historian and professor at the Victoria University of Wellington.
• Clarence Lyttle: Canadian professional baseball player who played pitcher for the Brooklyn Atlantics in 1876.
• Jeff Lyttle: Scottish former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
• Reggie Lyttle: basketball player for the Anderson Monarchs in the ABL.
• Josh Lyttle: American actor best known for his role as Antonio in The Fosters.
• Eric Lyttle Jr.: American director and cinematographer based in London.
• Andy Lyttle: American former college basketball coach at Presbyterian College.

Other surnames

Lyttleton