Trott

Transferred use of the surname Trott.

One is that it is a medieval English surname, in which case it can be an occupational surname that refers to a messenger, either derived from Middle English trot(ten) meaning "to walk fast" or Old French troter, which also means "to walk fast". However, it can also be a descriptive surname, meaning that it is derived from a nickname. In that case it is derived from Old English trothe meaning "loyalty", in reference to the loyal and trustworthy nature of the original bearer of the nickname. And lastly, it can also be a matronymic surname, which means that it is derived from the given name of a female ancestor. This name was Troit, Troyt or Trote, which are variants of Trude, which is a short form of Gertrude, Hiltrude and other names that end in -trude. Also compare the German equivalent Traud (also spelled Traut), which is a short form of Gertraud, Hiltraud, Waltraud and other names that end in -traud.

Another possibility is that it is a (sometimes anglicized) medieval German surname, in which case it can be an occupational surname that refers to a grape-treader, derived from Middle High German trot(t)e meaning "winepress". However, the surname can also be a descriptive surname that (mockingly) refers to a slow person, in which case it is derived from Middle High German trotten meaning "to trot".