Wyatt
A surname from a medieval French diminutive of Guy, essentially meaning “little Guy.”
The #653 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 5,913 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Wyatt goes back to medieval forms such as Wyot, Wyat, Wiat, Guyot, and Guiot. The name is generally taken as a diminutive of the Norman-French personal name Gui or Guy, ultimately from a Germanic name element related to war or strength. In effect, it began as a pet form meaning “little Guy” or “son of Guy.”
History
Medieval records show the name in several spellings, and the Wyatt form gradually became the standard English surname. Early bearers appear in English documents from the 13th and 14th centuries, reflecting the strong Norman-French influence on English naming after the Conquest. Related surnames such as Guyatt preserve the same origin more transparently.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Bardsley notes that Wyat/ Wyatt is one of several English surnames that developed from French diminutive forms of common personal names, alongside forms like Guyon and Wyon.
From the historical record
“Adam Wyard.—Hund. Rolls. WYATT (A.-Fr.-Teut.) the A.-Fr. IVyot, Fr- Guyot (very common), Guiot = Guy (q.v.) -)- the Fr. dim. sun. -ot. Wyot de Wrthiston [Worston]. — Landing. (A.D. 1258), i. 216. Henry Wyot.— Hund. Rolls. Wyot Balistarius.— Ctee Rolls. Guyet (dim. suff. -et) is also a French surname.”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)