8,093 Global Pettis Family Members

Pettis Family History

Recorded in many spellings including Pitt, Pitts, Pett, Petts, Pott, Potts, Pettus, Pates, Patis, Patise, Pettis, and Pettys this is a surname of pre 7th century Olde English and Anglo-Saxon origins. It is usually topographical and derives from the Olde English pre 7th century word "pytt" meaning a pit or hollow, and where appropriate the fused suffix '-hus' meaning a house. This is also dialectally 'disguised' as -es, -en, - ys, or -ise. Topographical surnames were among the earliest created, since both natural and man-made features in the landscape provided easily recognisable distinguishing names in the small communities of the Middle Ages.