Kitts History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Kitts is from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of the Britain and comes from the name Christopher, where Kitt is a pet form. The name Kitts is a diminutive, which is an expression relating to smallness in size or endearment, of the name. The most common diminutive suffixes are ot, et, un, in, el. Double diminutives are also formed from these suffixes, such as Hamelin, Roblett, Adnett, or Turkentine. Names ending in cock and kin became used more frequently in the mid-13th century and in the 14th century, they became extremely common.

Early Origins of the Kitts family

The surname Kitts was first found in Middlesex, where they held a family seat from early times.

Early History of the Kitts family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kitts research. Another 83 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1173, 1273, 1327, 1377, 1621 and 1669 are included under the topic Early Kitts History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kitts Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Kitts has been spelled many different ways, including Kitt, Kit, Kitts, Kitte, Kyt, Kytte and others.

Early Notables of the Kitts family

More information is included under the topic Early Kitts Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kitts Ranking

In the United States, the name Kitts is the 7,532^nd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1

Kitts migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Kittss to arrive in North America:

Kitts Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

William Kitts who sailed to Virginia in 1717
William Kitts, who landed in Virginia in 1717 2
Michael Kitts to Pennsylvania in 1773

Kitts Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Henry Kitts to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1844

Kitts migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Kitts Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

James Kitts, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Constance" in 1848 3
Caroline Kitts, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Pakenham" in 1849 4
Jane Kitts, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Pakenham" in 1849 4
Jane M. Kitts, aged 21, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Trafalgar" 5

Contemporary Notables of the name Kitts (post 1700) +

Miles Brown Kitts (1880-1947), American politician, 34th Mayor of Erie, Pennsylvania (1916-1924)
James Matthew Kitts (b. 1972), former American NFL football running back
James Roland "Jimmy" Kitts (1900-1952), American football, basketball, and baseball player and coach, inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 1956
Isaac Leonard Kitts (1896-1953), American bronze medalist equestrian at the 1932 Summer Olympics
Derrick Kitts (b. 1973), American politician, Member of the Oregon House of Representatives from the 30th district (2003-2007)
Miles Brown Kitts (1880-1947), American Republican politician, Mayor of Erie, Pennsylvania, 1916-24; Member of Pennsylvania State Senate 49th District, 1927-32 6
Gary R. Kitts, American Republican politician, Candidate in primary for U.S. Representative from Michigan 8th District, 1976 6
Mr. Terence John Kitts M.B.E., British Headteacher for Marchant Holliday School in Somerset, was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire on 8th June 2018, for services to Education 7
Sir Franciss Joseph "Frank" Kitts (1912-1979), longest-serving Mayor of Wellington, New Zealand (1956-1974), eponym of Frank Kitts Park, Wellington

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CONSTANCE - 1848. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1848Constance.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The PAKENHAM 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Pakenham.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The TRAFALGAR 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Trafalgar.htm
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 19) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
"Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62310, 4 July 2019 | London Gazette, The Gazette, June 2018, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/62310/supplement/B1