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ArchivesRe: My Surname
in reply to a message by Mark Hufflett
This is a truly mysterious name, very little information forthcoming. It seems in English records to be confined to London and surrounding area. The earliest record I've found is 1635 in London.
The only possible explanation I can come up with is that it is a diminutive of Hugh. There are diminutives such as Hewlett, Howlett and Hullott. Perhaps in some dialect(s) the -gh in Hugh was pronounced like the -gh in words like rough and enough.
There is a surname Huff, which is locative,but I can't see that diminutive ending being added to a place name. That ending makes a strong case for it being a personal name, at least it does for me.
The only possible explanation I can come up with is that it is a diminutive of Hugh. There are diminutives such as Hewlett, Howlett and Hullott. Perhaps in some dialect(s) the -gh in Hugh was pronounced like the -gh in words like rough and enough.
There is a surname Huff, which is locative,but I can't see that diminutive ending being added to a place name. That ending makes a strong case for it being a personal name, at least it does for me.
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