Surname Hunting - Meaning and Origin
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Hunting: What does the surname Hunting mean?
The last name Hunting is a toponymic surname which originates from England. It refers to the occupation of someone who hunted for game and fowl, such as wild boar and deer, to provide food for their family. It is thought to have come from an Old English word huntinga meaning 'hunter'.
Hunting may have been a noble occupation for some, particularly in the medieval period. As hunting was then carried out on private estates by people employed to do so, those of noble or wealthy classes had access to land and resources which allowed them to hunt. This was also a popular activity and source of food throughout the feudal era.
Today, Hunting is more commonly associated with the sport of field hunting. This involves hunting with hounds, pursuing hares or other game. There is some suggestion that the Hunting family were once linked with this occupation, fishing and trapping as well.
Given the origin of the last name Hunting and its long history, it is likely to have been very popular in England during the medieval period. It is indicative of someone of strength, or sometimes nobility, and indicates that the individual had a certain skill which was useful to providing food for their family or village. It is an interesting last name which speaks volumes about its English origins and its use through the ages.
Order DNA origin analysisHunting: Where does the name Hunting come from?
The Hunting surname is most commonly found in the United States, according to a 2020 survey. The top three states with the highest concentration of Hunting families are Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Hunting is also found in high numbers in Texas, Georgia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Massachusetts.
Hunting is an English surname, derived from the Old English word “hunta,” which means “hunter.” Members of a hunting family would have once been engaged in hunting wild animals as a source of food or for sport. It is likely that the surname originated when a hunter took on the family name to distinguish himself from others in the same profession. As times changed, so did the profession of hunting, and with it, the Hunting name.
The Hunting surname is found in many countries across the world. Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom have high numbers of Hunting families, and the name is also found in Germany, Ireland, Scotland, and other countries in Europe. With the rise of migration due to globalization, the Hunting name can now be found in many other countries, including the Philippines, China, India, and South Africa.
Overall, the Hunting surname is quite common across the world. Its origin can be traced back to England and its meaning associated with hunting, but the name has spread far and wide thanks to its numerous bearers.
Variations of the surname Hunting
The surname Hunting is of English Origin. Variants of the surname Hunting include Huntin, Huntan, Huntane, Hunten, Huntene, Huntin, Huntyn, Huntayn, Huntayne, Huntting, Hunttinge, Hunttinges, Hunttingg, Hunttyng and Hunttyng.
The different spellings come from when the name was first recorded and require consideration of the many different spellings of the name which, at that time, were in use in Britain and Ireland.
Hunting is also sometimes hailed by the different shortened versions such as Hunt and Hunta or is hyphenated which in this instance becomes Hunting-Hunt.
Some families may have adopted the French version of Hunting - Huntingdon - when they emigrated to France from Britain.
The patronymic form of Hunting is Huntsman, hence Hunteman, Huntmen and Huntmon.
Lastly, people bearing the Hunting surname may have changed the spelling of their name slightly over time usually as a result of language and dialect changing in order to conform to the modern spellings.
The most common variant of the surname in England today is Hunt. It is also the spelling of a number of other families descended from Hunting ancestors, although the original Hunting family are catered for by the Hunting - Huntin spelling.
Famous people with the name Hunting
- Henry Hunting: British composer and violinist
- Vanessa Hunting: British artist
- Nigel Hunting: British actor
- Paul Hunting: American professional basketball player
- Talia Hunting: British actress
- Edith Anna Hunting: American writer
- Rupert Hunting: American jazz saxophonist
- Anne Hunting: American philanthropist
- Ted Hunting: American architect
- Tim Hunting: British musician, vocalist