Pettigrew is an English surname with origins in medieval Norman French. It is derived from the French phrase petit cru, meaning 'small growth,' from Anglo-Norman French petit creu. The surname originally served as a nickname for a short or small man. An alternative interpretation traces it to pie de grue (crane's foot), referring to someone with long legs, akin to the word 'pedigree' from Anglo-French pe de gru. The surname has been attested in England since the 13th century.
Etymology
The etymology of Pettigrew is debated. The most widely accepted derivation is from Norman French petit cru ('small growth'), used to describe a person of small stature or perhaps a small vineyard (cru meaning 'growth' in viticulture). Another theory links it to Old French pied de grue ('crane's foot'), a reference to long-legged individuals, which also gave rise to the word 'pedigree' (initially a term for a genealogical chart resembling a crane's foot).
Distribution and Variants
Pettigrew is primarily found in English-speaking countries, especially in the United Kingdom and the United States. Variants of the surname include Pettigru, Pettegre, Petegre, Petigrew, Petticrew, Petegrew, and Pettygrew, reflecting different phonetic and orthographic influences over centuries.
Notable Bearers
Notable individuals with the surname Pettigrew include:
- Richard Pettigrew (1848–1926), American lawyer and politician, a U.S. Senator from South Dakota.
- John Pettigrew (1744–1816), American Patriot, planter, and statesman in North Carolina.
- Ad Pettigrew (1877–1938), Scottish footballer who played for Hibernian and Rangers.
- Taylor Pettigrew (1812–1888), American slave trader and politician.
In fiction, the name is most famously borne by Peter Pettigrew, a character in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, where it is fittingly associated with smallness and treachery.
- Meaning: Derived from Norman French petit 'small' and cru 'growth'
- Origin: Norman French, later English
- Type: Surname
- Usage regions: English-speaking world (especially UK and USA)
Sources: Wiktionary — Pettigrew