Abbott

Abbott is a surname of English origin derived from the medieval occupational term abbot, the head of a monastery. The name originates from the Latin abbas, via Old English abbod or abbot, and was historically used for people associated with an abbey or who performed duties for an abbot. As a surname, Abbott has many spellings, including Abbot and Abott, and has become common in English-speaking countries. In addition to its use as a last name, Abbott appears in place names and in the branding of organizations and products.

One prominent use of the name in modern times is Abbott Laboratories, a multinational health care company founded in 1888 by Wallace C. Abbott in North Chicago, Illinois. The firm historically produced medicines and later expanded into medical devices, diagnostics, and nutritional products. In 2013 Abbott split into two public companies: Abbott, focusing on diagnostics, medical devices, and nutrition, and AbbVie, a pharmaceutical company focused on biopharmaceuticals. Abbott today is headquartered in Abbott Park, Illinois, and markets products including glucose monitoring devices, laboratory diagnostics, nutritional formulas, and cardiovascular and autoimmune therapies through its broad portfolio.

There are places named Abbott in the United States and other English-speaking regions, such as Abbott, Texas. In literature and culture, individuals bearing the Abbott surname have contributed across fields including science, politics, sports, and the arts.