This interesting and unusual name is a variant form of "Studd", which is of English origin, and is topographical for someone who lived on a stud farm, or an occupational name for someone who was employed on one. It is derived from the Middle English (1200 - 1500) "stode, stud(d)e", stud, from the Old English pre 7th Century "sted". Topographical surname were among the earliest created, since both natural and man-made features in the landscape provided easily recognisable distinguishing names. Stitt is a common variant in both Scotland and Northern Ireland. The modern surname can be found as Stud(d), Stit(t) and Studde. The christening of Margaret, daughter of William and Hare Stitt, was recorded on April 19th 1719 at New Cumnock, Ayr, in Scotland. One William Stitt married Susan Beales on January 1st 1851 at St. Andrew's, St. Marylebone, London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Alnod Stud, which was dated 1066, in the Domesday Book, during the reign of King William 1, known as "The Conqueror", 1066 - 1087. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.