Leggett
An English surname with several proposed roots, most likely a diminutive or variant of an older name or nickname form found especially in Lincolnshire.
The #2,777 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 23,792 Americans shares it.
Etymology
The surname Leggett has been explained in more than one way by historical surname writers, and the evidence is not fully settled. One suggestion links it with an older English name or place-root, with Leggett treated as a diminutive form related to names such as Legg or Leggott; another older explanation in the source excerpt says it may mean “the son of Legge.” The name was especially noted in Lincolnshire, where several related forms occur.
History
Nineteenth- and early twentieth-century surname studies place Leggett chiefly in eastern and northern England, especially Lincolnshire. The name appears alongside related forms such as Legg, Leggott, and Legwood, suggesting a local cluster of surnames with overlapping development. Because the etymology is not certain, modern references usually treat it as an English surname of disputed origin rather than a single clear occupational or locational name.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Older surname maps in the source material show Leggett and Leggott as a notable Lincolnshire pair, hinting at a strong local concentration rather than a nationwide spread.
From the historical record
“trusty or confidential office. LEGATT. Legate, an ambassador ; Leggett, the son of Legge. LEIGH or LEGH. Local A town in England, a pasture or meadow, the same as Ley, or Lea. The frequency of this family name in Cheshire, England, led to the old proverb, " As many Leighs as fleas, Masseys as asses, and”
— An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names