Surname Harbott - Meaning and Origin
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Harbott: What does the surname Harbott mean?
The last name Harbott has a number of possible origins. It may be of French origin, derived from the Old French “harbott” meaning “fiddler”, or it may be of German origin, derived from the Middle High German “harbott” meaning “peddler”. The Harbott families of these origins are both usually of the lower classes and perhaps derived from a job title. It can also be of British origin and is likely derived from the Middle English “harbott” meaning “hare-cote” which originally referred to a hatching place where hares bred. In this context, the name was likely associated with a place or residence.
The surname Harbott is also found in the Spanish language, derived from the Spanish “harbott” meaning “haying tool”, which likely indicated one who cultivated hay. It can also be of Dutch origin, from the Dutch “harbout” meaning “detour”, typically referring to a pathway or watercourse. Those with the surname Harbott descended from these places likely had ancestors who were tradesmen or laborers.
The surname Harbott is not common and is relatively rare in some countries, such as the United States, Canada, and Australia. Those of the Harbott descent can be found in numerous countries, including England, France, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, and Spain.
Order DNA origin analysisHarbott: Where does the name Harbott come from?
The surname Harbott is most commonly found today in Europe and North America. In Europe, it is most prevalent in the United Kingdom and Ireland. In North America, the United States and Canada are home to the highest numbers of people with the last name Harbott.
In the United States, Harbott is most commonly found in Pennsylvania, which has seen a rise in both its immigrant and native populations in recent years. According to the Social Security Administration, Harbott is the 14,841st most popular surname in the United States, with an estimated 44,000 people in the country carrying the name.
It is also popular in Canada, where it is the 2,714th most common surname according to the latest figures.
In the UK, the surname can also be found, with an estimated 10,000 people in the country with the last name Harbott. This number seems to be slowly declining over the years since more popular formsof the name, such as Haber, Hablitt or Habergham, have started to emerge.
Although the name Harbott is relatively rare in comparison to other British surnames, its history traces back to the 12th century origins of Harbottle in Northumberland. This medieval ancestor of the modern Harbott family is the origin of the last name’s widespread popularity in the western world.
Variations of the surname Harbott
The surname Harbott is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is derived from the borough of Herbott in Lancashire, England. This surname can be found in records as early as 1279, and has a variety of different spellings and variants depending on location. Commonly, variants of the name include Harbot, Herbot, Hurbut, Hurbot, Herbut, and Urbott. In Scotland, the surname is spelled Arbot. In Middle English the name is often seen spelled Horebot, and in some cases as Horbott. Nicknames arising from the Harbott surname include Harbutt, Harboton, and Herbotson.
In many cases, members of the Harbott family adopted different surnames that sounded similar in order to conform to regional pronunciation patterns or due to migration patterns. Some common variant surnames include Harbottle, Herbuttle, and Arbuthnot.
The proliferation of variant spellings of the Harbott surname has made research challenging, though variations in records referring to a single person can be helpful in identifying relationships between individuals. Variants of Harbott are widely found throughout England, Scotland, Wales and the United States, with families often sharing a common ancestor.
Famous people with the name Harbott
- Robert Harbott: A former professional British footballer who played in the Football League in England
- Peter Harbott: The son of a former UK Prime Minister James Callaghan and a British journalist
- Sarah Harbott: A British television presenter and actress
- Thomas Harbott: An English songwriter and composer
- Lionel Harbott: A British fashion designer
- David Harbott: A former British politician who served as a Member of Parliament for North East Somerset from 1997-2015
- Simon Harbott: A former English cricketer
- Andrew Harbott: A professional British footballer
- Richard Harbott: A British electrical engineer
- Elizabeth Harbott: An English politician and an Advisor to the Prime Minister