French surname
Small
Descriptive surname
Petit is a French descriptive surname meaning 'small' or 'little'. It was typically used as a nickname for a person of small stature or to distinguish a younger individual from an older relative of the same name. The name is common throughout France.
It has been carried by emigrants to many countries. Related forms include Lepetit. The surname’s simplicity allowed independent origin in numerous families.
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Small. A descriptive nickname surname, French for "small".
Petit is a French-origin surname. Popularity varies widely by country and region, and the same surname can be common in one place and rare in another.
Yes. Surnames, especially occupational and descriptive ones like this, were often adopted independently by many unrelated families who happened to share a trade, appearance, or location.
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