Surname Nutter - Meaning and Origin
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The Unforeseen Viking Connection: Revealing Unsuspected Ancestral Bonds through iGENEA DNA Test
The journey started innocently with an iGENEA DNA test. As someone bearing the surname Nutter, I had anticipated findings rooted in Anglo-Saxon lineage. However, the test resulted in a labyrinth of surprises, revealing a blend of Anglo-Saxon, Celtic, and to my amazement, Viking ancestry.
C. Nutter
read moreNutter: What does the surname Nutter mean?
The last name "Nutter" is of Anglo-Saxon origin and widely prevalent in Ireland, Scotland, and Northern England. It is an occupational name derived from the Old English term "cniht", which translates to "knight”. Therefore, it was often used for a person who served as a knight or was known for his knightly or chivalrous attributes. The word "knight" itself derives from an old English word which means "servant" or "retainer”. Over time, it came to symbolize martial valor, nobility, and honor.
However, the meaning can vary based on geographical and historical context. Some interpretations suggest it might be a derivative of the Middle English term "nouther", meaning "neither" and could have been used a nickname.
It's important to note that surnames often evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Therefore, the exact origin of the surname may differ based on different contextual factors.
Order DNA origin analysisNutter: Where does the name Nutter come from?
The surname Nutter is most commonly found throughout England, particularly in northern parts of the country including Cornwall, Devon, and Lancashire. It is also quite popular in the United States. Records indicate that the name arrived in the US in the early 1700s, so it has likely been there for some time.
In England, the name is mostly associated with County Lancashire and particularly the town of Colne, where the Nutters originate from. A significant cluster of Nutters can also be found around the South East in Cornwall.
In the United States, the Nutter name is concentrated in the North-East, especially Pennsylvania, with high numbers also found in New England states such as Massachusetts. Indeed, the US Census of 2000 reports that nearly half of all Nutters in the US live in Pennsylvania. It also suggests that the distribution of the Nutter name is now widening into neighboring states, including Wisconsin, Indiana, and Ohio.
Given the dispersal of the name, the Nutter surname is now considered to be quite widespread. Although it is most commonly associated with England and the US, records within other countries, such as Australia, suggest significant numbers of Nutters have also migrated there in search of a new home.
Variations of the surname Nutter
The surname Nutter can trace back its origins to medieval Britain and can be spelled in a variety of ways. The most common spelling is Nutter, but other variants include Nuttert, Nutterte and Nothert.
The surname Nutter derives from the Middle English noun 'nutere', which was used to refer to someone who collected nuts. This is usually a job done by a woman or servants, so the surname indicates a person of a lower class. This could explain why the name is particularly associated with Lancashire and Yorkshire in Northern England.
In some cases, the spelling of the surname may have been misspelled or changed due to pronunciation issues, such as 'Nother' for Nutter. There are also cases where it has been Anglicized to sound German. For example, Notroff, Notter and the Dutch version Noter.
The surname Nutter can also be found with some alternate first names such as Noother or Noothers. The origin of the name is still debated, but there are some occurrences where the spelling signifies a notable profession, such as “Noter” as a clerk or 'Notemaker' as a carpenter.
All of these different spellings of Nutter share a common origin and can be interchanged, while still retaining the same meaning. Therefore, it can be assumed that anyone with any of these surnames are related in some way.
Famous people with the name Nutter
- Thomas Nutter: Nutter was a merchant in Jamestown, Virginia, in the early 1700s. He was a successful planter and trader who was influential in the development of the colony.
- Kenneth Nutter: Kenneth Nutter was a cattle rancher and political figure from Oklahoma. He served in the US House of Representatives from 1949 to 1975.
- Charles Nutter: Charles Nutter was an American poet, playwright, and actor. He wrote the original version of the popular musical Damn Yankees.
- Brian Nutter: Brian Nutter is a country and rock musician who has been a longtime member of the band Alabama. He plays guitar and contributes to songwriting.
- William Nutter: William Nutter was a popular American actor in the 1940s and 1950s. He appeared in many films, including George Stevens' A Place in the Sun, Sabrina and The Greatest Show on Earth.
- Jay Nutter: Jay Nutter was a prominent American actor and director of television and stage plays in the 1950s and 1960s. He was a director of NBC's Playhouse 90, and appeared in several productions.
- Richard Nutter: Richard Nutter is an English journalist who has written for The Guardian, The London Times, and The New Yorker.
- Charles Nutter: Charles Nutter was an American lawyer and politician who served as a delegate to the Continental Congress from 1782 to 1783.
- Archer Nutter: Archer Nutter was a British soldier and colonial administrator in North America in the mid-1700s. He served as Governor of New Hampshire from 1771 to 1775.