Surname Mailhiot - Meaning and Origin
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Mailhiot: What does the surname Mailhiot mean?
The last name Mailhiot is of French origin and is derived from thee Old French word ‘maille’, which means ‘mesh’. It is thought that the name was given to one of the first Mailhiot families by a nobleman in recognition of the family members’ skill in producing and repairing mesh or mail armour for use in battle.
Mailhiot is often listed as an occupational surname among French Canadian families and, until recently, had been relatively uncommon. It is thought to be the result of French settlers coming to the New World in search of more land and better economic opportunities, particularly during the late 1800s and early 1900s.
They brought their last names with them and the Mailhiot surname was sometimes corrupted to make it easier to spell, record and pronounce. Variants of the surname Mailhiot include Maillet, Maillot, Mallio, Mallet, Malloy and more.
Typically a clan or family name, Mailhiot refers to the ‘standard bearer’ of a family or clan, one who bore the family standards into battle and rallied members of the clan around their shared identity. This is especially relevant among French families where the strong sense of ancestor and family heritage survives to this day.
The Mailhiot surname is an enduring piece of French Canadian and French American history. Today, the surnames is still in use and carries on the proud tradition of the makers of historic mail armour, reminding families of its earliest bearers and their remarkable skill.
Order DNA origin analysisMailhiot: Where does the name Mailhiot come from?
The last name Mailhiot is not especially common today, but it still exists in certain pockets around the world. Mailhiot can be found in France, Canada, and the United States. In France, the Mailhiot surname has historically been a relatively common one, especially in the Northern part of the country, particularly around the Laon region. Canadian records note that the surname appears in regions across the country, though it may also have descended from French immigrants who settled in the area during the 18th and 19th centuries.
In the United States, the most frequent occurrences of the surname Mailhiot are in Massachusetts and Wisconsin. While it’s difficult to track the exact origin of each family, the origin of the surname is most likely French—given that French immigrants are known to have settled in these states during the 19th century. Census records have noted multiple Mailhiot families living in cities such as Boston, Milwaukee, and Waukesha in Wisconsin.
The Mailhiot family is not especially common in any one region today, but evidence of its past presence is found in archives and records across several countries. It is possible that certain family branches have changed their name over the years, or immigrated to different regions over time.
Variations of the surname Mailhiot
The surname Mailhiot is a French surname of multiple origins, with regional spellings and variants found throughout Europe.
The most popular variant of this surname is Mailhot, which is mainly found in Quebec, Canada. This variant is a French Huguenot (Protestant) name that translates roughly to “cemetery’. The alternative spelling of Mailhiot is Maillhiot, which is found most commonly in France. The spelling originates from the ancient French name from the Latin “mallium” which means “plant”, “bean”, or “grain”.
Other variants of Mailhiot include Mallhiot, Maillhot, Mallhot, Malehot, and Mallhoit. These variations in spelling may be due to differences in local dialect, an influence from other languages, or simply a misreading or mispelling of the original spelling. There is also the surname Maelhot which is found in the Netherlands, and although it is similar in spelling to Mailhiot, it is thought to have a distinct etymology and meaning.
Finally, there is the variant Malloi, found mainly in France and German-speaking countries. It is thought that the original form of this table was derived from ‘maillierot’, which is a French word often used to describe a wine-seller or tavern-keeper.
Overall, the Mailhiot surname has spread across Europe with many different spellings and variants, testifying to the wide geographical dispersion of the surname.
Famous people with the name Mailhiot
- Julie Mailhiot: Canadian film and television actress.
- Knut Lunde: Norwegian politician who served as Minister of Industry from 1972: 1973 under Prime Minister Trygve Bratteli as a member of the Labour Party.
- Guillaume Mailhiot: Canadian actor and comic who is best known as “Mr. Bistouflex” on the TV show Rumeurs.
- Luce Mailhiot: Canadian journalist and television presenter best known for her documentary Chemin des papillons.
- Jean-Philippe Mailhiot: Canadian actor, writer and entrepreneur.
- Béatrice Mailhiot: Canadian writer specializing in science fiction, fantasy and horror.
- Phil A. Mailhiot: Canadian/American executive and entrepreneur.
- André Mailhiot: Canadian jewelry designer and founding member of the Designershop collective of independent jewelry and fashion designers.
- Amy Mailhiot: Canadian writer and illustrator of children’s books.
- Aurélie Mailhiot: French journalist, director and writer.