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[Facts] Dorrit (f., English)
by Lumia
3/11/2009, 7:17 AM
It seems that Dorrit has been used as given name (sometimes as nickname of Dorothy) since the publication of Little Dorrit (1855-1857), by Charles Dickens, despite that in the novel Dorrit is a surname.Does anybody know the origin of the surname Dorrit?Thank youLumia
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- egyptianpanda
3/11/2009, 11:24 AM
I don't know about the surname, but it could just be a variant of the name Dorit.Ilana

This message was edited 3/11/2009, 11:24 AM

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- Cleveland Kent Evans (clevelandkentevans)   +1
3/11/2009, 10:30 AM
I cannot find that spelling in my surname dictionaries, but Reaney & Wilson's A Dictionary of English Surnames does give Dorrett as a surname which is one of the variations of Durward or Dorwood, all going back to Old English duru-weard, meaning "doorkeeper" or "porter." Perhaps that's what Dickens was thinking of.
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- Lumia
3/11/2009, 1:11 PM
That makes senseThank you very much for your answer.
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