Show ContentsNotting History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Notting

What does the name Notting mean?

The Notting surname finds its earliest origins with the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name is derived from Cnute, a popular name in England in the early Middle Ages. It was popular thanks to the influence of Cnut, a Dane, who became King of England in 1016. "There are two Cnuts in Domesday, one in Yorkshire, the other in Derbyshire." 1

Alternatively, it may be of nickname origin, from the Old English word hnutu, which meant brown, and would have been given to someone with a brown complexion. It may be that this is the origin of the English saying "Brown as a nut," used for someone who has spent a lot of time in the sun.

Early Origins of the Notting family

The surname Notting was first found in Gloucestershire where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

Early History of the Notting family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Notting research. Another 86 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1550, 1576, 1577, 1600, 1605, 1612, 1620, 1623, 1640, 1653, 1656, 1660, 1668, 1716, 1722 and 1987 are included under the topic Early Notting History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Notting Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Notting are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Notting include: Nutt, Nudd, Nutting, Knutt, Nuttman, Nutter and others.

Early Notables of the Notting family

Distinguished members of the family include John Nutt (1605-1668), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1640 to 1653; and John Nutt (fl. 1620-1623), English pirate born in Devon who raided the Newfoundland and western England for three years before his capture by Sir John Eliot in 1623. His arrest and conviction caused a scandal in the English court as Nutt had paid Eliot £500 in exchange for a pardon. He was eventually released by the Secretary of State George Calvert. He arrived at Torbay Newfoundland in 1620 aboard the ship Dartmouth in 1620, but soon organized...
Another 204 words (15 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Notting Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Notting family to Ireland

Some of the Notting family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Notting migration to the United States +

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Notting or a variant listed above:

Notting Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • George Notting, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1791 2
Notting Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • M Notting, aged 26, who landed in New York, NY in 1846 2
  • Willem Notting, aged 35, who arrived in New York, NY in 1846 2
  • Albert Notting, aged 11, who landed in New York, NY in 1846 2
  • Bertha Notting, aged 31, who arrived in New York, NY in 1847 2
  • Cornelis Notting, aged 30, who landed in New York, NY in 1848 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Notting (post 1700) +

  • Pierre Notting (1825-1895), Luxembourg rosarian, co-founder of Soupert & Notting, a company specializing in growing roses in Limpertsberg in 1855
  • Tim Notting (b. 1978), Australian rules footballer, Premiership player in 2001 and 2002


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. 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)


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