An English and Irish surname of Hunt comes from Old English from the words ‘hunta’ and ‘huntian’ which means the hunter or to hunt. The Irish form was ‘fiadhach’ which meant to hunt.

Spelling forms of Hunt include Huntar and Hunter. The German spelling of Hunt is Hundt.

In England in the Shropshire region originally there were many Hunt families. Later in Yorkshire and Sussex counties individuals with the Hunt name lived. London and Lancashire are also have many with the Hunt surname. In Scotland, it is mostly the county of Lanarkshire with the Hunt surname.

Within the United States the Hunt families are mostly in Massachusetts, Texas, California, Illinois and Ohio. Many are scattered across the southern states.

Famous: John Hunt (climbed with Sir Edmund Hillary’s expedition in 1953 to Mt. Everest), Helen Hunt (TV and film actress), Joe R. Hunt (tennis champion), Bonnie Hunt (actress), Alfred E. Hunt (19th century founder of Alcoa Aluminum Co.), David Hunt (English auto racer), Haroldson L. Hunt, Jr. (oil tycoon) and Peter R. Hunt (film director).