When found in Ireland the surname Elliott, Elliot, Eliot, is either of English or Scottish origin, having been introduced into Ireland during the Plantation Period. Today the name is mainly associated with Counties Fermanagh and Cavan. It is of patronymic origin, that is, denotes "son of Elliott". In Scotland, Elliott is a border name, derived from the Old English personal name "Aelfwald" meaning "elf-ruler" and until the fifteenth century it is usually found as Elwald or Elwold. The Elliott were one of the great riding clans of the western Scottish Borders and although there were several branches of the family - the chiefship resided initially with the Elliots of Redheugh in Berwickshire. After the "pacification" of the Scottish Borders in the decade following 1603, Elliotts, Armstrongs and Johnsons, were hanged, outlawed and banished, and many came to Ulster during the 1609 Plantation. They settled particularly in Fermanagh where they seem to have formed a cohesive group, strong enough to ride in the 1641 rising. When found in England the first name Elliott is a diminutive of Ellis or Elis, medieval vernacular forms of Eliyah. Eliyah is ultimately derived from the Hebrew "Eliyahu" meaning "Jehovah is God" and is the name of a biblical prophet and various early saints. The earliest record of this surname is of English origin. In1188 one Elyat is recorded in Suffolk and William Elyot is mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Somerset in 1257. The Subsidy Rolls for Sussex contain a reference to one William Eliot in 1327. The name was brought to the U.S. by Irish immigrants.
Blazon of Arms: Argent, two bars wavy per pale azure gules.
Crest: An Elephant's head couped sable eared and tusked argent.