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ArchivesRe: Kitt as a form of Katherine?
in reply to a message by Kelly
Since Kit and Kitty were established as pet forms of Katherine well before spelling was set, it would be very odd to me if there hadn't been a woman who spelled this as Kitt at some point in history.
Withycombe's The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names gives an example of a woman called Kytte in a 14th century record from Coventry, England.
Reaney & Wilson's A Dictionary of English Surnames traces the surname Kitt back to both Christopher and Katherine, though the only early spelling it provides are Kytt, Kitte, and Kytte.
8 of the 13 persons listed with the given name "Kitt" in the 1850 US Census are female, though of course the spelling in a census record may be the choice of the census taker, not the name bearer.
During what historical time period does your character live?
P.S. And here is a link to a slave deed from Houston County, Georgia, in 1858, which in the third line refers to a "negro woman named Kitt":
http://www.toomerfamily.com/Toomer_History/lucytoomer.html
Withycombe's The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names gives an example of a woman called Kytte in a 14th century record from Coventry, England.
Reaney & Wilson's A Dictionary of English Surnames traces the surname Kitt back to both Christopher and Katherine, though the only early spelling it provides are Kytt, Kitte, and Kytte.
8 of the 13 persons listed with the given name "Kitt" in the 1850 US Census are female, though of course the spelling in a census record may be the choice of the census taker, not the name bearer.
During what historical time period does your character live?
P.S. And here is a link to a slave deed from Houston County, Georgia, in 1858, which in the third line refers to a "negro woman named Kitt":
http://www.toomerfamily.com/Toomer_History/lucytoomer.html
This message was edited 7/28/2008, 11:01 AM
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Replies
Thank you so much for the wealth of information. I suppose I had taken modern spelling rules for granted, and it's fascinating to note all of those variations. Still, with as difficult as it's been to find modern sources listing it, I suppose Kitt is a name that's been lost to a bygone era.
Unless that Kit Kittredge movie becomes popular, but I cringe every time I hear that sickeningly cute name. I think it'd be a little unfortunate if Kit/Kitt saw a rise in popularity because of it, but I digress.
My character Kitt exists in a modern-day setting, with Katherine having been passed through the generations as a family name. I've just personally been reluctant to use "creative" misspellings of classic names and nicknames, and I had been considering changing her name to Kit. I think I'll be keeping it now though.
Unless that Kit Kittredge movie becomes popular, but I cringe every time I hear that sickeningly cute name. I think it'd be a little unfortunate if Kit/Kitt saw a rise in popularity because of it, but I digress.
My character Kitt exists in a modern-day setting, with Katherine having been passed through the generations as a family name. I've just personally been reluctant to use "creative" misspellings of classic names and nicknames, and I had been considering changing her name to Kit. I think I'll be keeping it now though.
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