This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Lettice' (Latin, laetitia, gladness). As a girl's name Lettice was very popular in its day. It is now rare. It suffered at the Reformation, and still more so in the Puritan era, not being a Bible name, and implying hilarity. Lett was the nick., Letts and Lettson being the patronymics. Lettsom is occasionally a corrupted form of Lettson (compare Ransom for Ranson, or Hansom for Hanson), but in general it is local (v. Lettsom). It is said that a well-known doctor of the last century used to sign his prescriptions 'I. Lettsom,' whence the following:

'When any patient calls in haste, physics, bleeds, and sweats 'em; If after that they choose to die, Why, what care I? I Lettsom.'

Nicholas fil. Lete, Bedfordshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

John fil. Lettice, Cambridgeshire ibid.

Warin Letice, Suffolk, ibid.

Lettice Kygelpeny, Close Rolls, 28 Edward I.

John Lettesone, c. 1300. Writs of Parliament.

Johannes Leteson, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

Willelmus Letis, 1379: ibid.

Alicia Letis, 1379: ibid.

1683. Baptised — Ann, d. Ralph Lett: St. James, Clerkenwell.

1782. Married — Richard Hammonds and Ann Lettes: St. George, Hanover Square.

The name Lett is prominent though not numerous in Co. Wexford. It dates there from the midseventeenth century, when Thomas Lett, a Cromwellian “adventurer”, obtained lands at Newcastle, Co. Wexford. According to Reaney Lett is a pet form of Lettice, a surname derived from laetitia (joy).

That name occurs in Cambridgeshire in 1208 as filius Lete and it would seem possible that Lett might also derive from Old English Iete (a watercourse) since Atte Lete is recorded as a mediaeval surname also; Another derivation worth consideration is the Norman de Lette. While not suggesting that the Wexford Letts were necessarily in Ireland in 1302, I may observe that the Justiciary Rolls twice mention John de Leyt as owner of property in Co. Dublin; and perhaps the existence of Adam Leth, a Co. Carlow inquisition juror in 1307,may also be relevant. From the early eighteenth century references to the name Lett are frequent in all the normal sources of research and almost all these relate either to Co. Wexford or an adjacent county.

A notable number of the Wexford family was Sir Hugh Lett (b. 1876) who was President of the British Medical Association.

(Anglo-Latin) a diminutive of Lettice, Letitia = Joy [Latin laetitia] (English) confused with Litt, a weak form of Lyte, q.v.

The well known Lett family of Co. Wexford is Cromwellian. Several centuries earlier de Leyt and Leth occur in Carlow and Dublin records but these are of different origin. SIF 105

A Livonian. One Let was a tenant in co, Gloucester before the Conquest. Domesday.

From the Dutch, Leth; from the Flemish, Lette; a personal name.