eliot

Eliot is a given name and a surname of English origin. It is a spelling variant of Elliott and is found in several English-speaking countries. The name’s roots are not entirely clear; it is usually considered to derive from medieval forms of the given name Elias or Elijah, or from a surname that itself originated from a place name.

As a surname, Eliot appears in literary and historical contexts. Notable bearers include T. S. Eliot, the Nobel Prize–winning poet; George Eliot, the pen name of Mary Anne Evans, the 19th-century novelist; and Charles W. Eliot, longtime president of Harvard University. The given name Eliot is used in its own right; notable people include Eliot Ness, the federal agent who led the Untouchables, and Eliot Spitzer, the former governor of New York.

In geography, Eliot is the name of several places in the United States, including Eliot, Maine, and Eliot, Texas, among others. The name has also been used for schools, libraries, and cultural institutions, sometimes in honor of prominent individuals bearing the name.

Today, Eliot persists as both a surname and a given name. Variants include Elliott, Ellot, and Ellott, reflecting differences in spelling traditions and personal choice.