Family names started in Europe in the 13th and 14th century. Because of the growing population, people received a surname. Today you can categorize the origin of a surname in these main categories:
- Personal name (Bsp.: Peter, Erikson, Peterhans…)
- name because of theirs occupation (Bsp.: Müller (Miller), Koch (cook), Käser (cheesemaker), Fischer (fisherman), Zimmernann (carpenter)…)
- name of settlement (Bsp.: Berger (from mountain), Bachmann (from stream)…)
- name of origin (Bsp.: Berner (from Bern), Züricher (from Zurich), Basler (from Basle…)
- sobriquet name (Bsp.: Kleiner (from little), Lang (long), Leibundgut…)
The name Thut probably formerly Tiuto and came from the old-german word diot = folk (nation). Thut means something like «Folk man».
Because of old writings and emigrations the name Thut has sometimes different spellings.
- Dut
- Tut, Tuto, Thuot, Tiuto (Niklaus Thut von Zofingen)
- Duth, Duht, Duoth (emigration to Oberentfelden)
- Thut (today)
- Thuet (today)