Surname Poet - Meaning and Origin
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Poet: What does the surname Poet mean?
The last name Poet is a patronymic surname which originated in Normandy, France during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the personal name Pout, which was originally derived from the Latin ‘poeta’, meaning poet. Therefore it is likely that the original bearer of the Poet surname was an artisan or someone of a creative profession such as a poet, minstrel, or even a painter.
The Poet surname spread throughout the region of Normandy during the Middle Ages, eventually spreading to other parts of France as well as Europe and beyond. It can be found in areas such as Germany, Belgium, and Italy. From there the name eventually made its way to the United States via immigration in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Today, the last name Poet is still fairly uncommon, but it is not unheard of. It is a reminder of the artistic roots of its bearer, and a nod to the great creative minds of history. It is also a testament to the power of immigration and the willingness of those who left their homes in search of a better life and a brighter future.
Order DNA origin analysisPoet: Where does the name Poet come from?
The last name Poet is most common in parts of Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Germany. It is also common in parts of the United States, particularly Midwestern states, as well as Pennsylvania and New York.
The Poet surname originated in the Latin language, and it typically means “poet” or "regional magistrate". In some cases, however, the Poet surname may refer to someone who was a retailer of clothing or other fabrics. In France, the Poet surname is believed to have developed from a nickname, derived from poteau, which was a small amount of fabric used to make an article of clothing.
In the United States, the Poet surname ranked 18,366th among the most common American surnames in 2019. Areas with the highest percentages of people with this surname can be found in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Alabama, Pennsylvania and New York.
Finally, it is also important to note that many people have changed their surname, in some cases from Poet to other, more common names. As such, in areas that have significant immigrant and minority populations, the Poet surname may not be as prominent.
Variations of the surname Poet
The surname Poet has a variety of different spellings and similar-sounding surnames of the same origin. These include Poite, Poitte, Poete, Poette, Poyet, Poyette, Pouet, Pouette and Pouyet. As with many surnames that sound similar but are spelled differently, they likely arose from a variation in the pronunciation of the original surname.
The surname Poet may have originated from the old French word 'pouete', meaning 'little fly'. During the 12th and 13th centuries there were several notable military leaders and knights with this surname, who fought in wars in what is now modern France.
The Poet surname is also derived from an occupational source, as it has been used as a last name for a picker of herbs, or the one who prepared medicines from these herbs. This is most likely a French derivation, as the French word 'poete' means 'herb picker'.
The Poet surname is also derived from the Old French word 'poiet', which means 'piece of poetry'. This likely originated in the area of France that had a strong literary tradition, and had become popular with poets.
The surname is also found in England, with variants of Poit, Poite, Poitie, Poets, Poitt, Poitte, Poet, Poete, Poyet, Poyte, and Poyette. The variants from England have more to do with the origins of those people who moved to England than with the French spelling, as most of them are derived from the Middle English 'poyte'.
It is likely that all of these variants and spellings of the surname Poet have the same origin, and are all related in the sense that they all, in some way, come from the original French Poet surname.
Famous people with the name Poet
- Amanda Gorman: the youngest inaugural poet in United States history.
- Robert Pinsky: a prolific American poet and essayist.
- F.D. Reeve: an American poet and translator.
- David Whyte: an English poet and scholar.
- Rachel McKibbens: an American spoken-word poet.
- Will Schutz: an American poet, philosopher, and lifelong student of creativity.
- Robert Bly: an American poet, essayist, activist, and leader of the mythopoetic men’s movement.
- Mary Morrissey: an American poet and teacher.
- David Pountney: an English poet and arts promoter.
- Don Paterson: a Scottish poet, editor, and reviewer.
- Edward Estlin Cummings: an American poet known for his modernist innovations.