Abbott is an English surname and given name of Old French origin, derived from the medieval term 'abbot', which referred to the head of a monastery. It was first used as a personal name in England during the Middle Ages, when it was common for families to adopt their surname from the profession or status of their ancestor. In this case, Abbott would have originally belonged to someone who held the position of abbot within the church hierarchy. Over time, Abbott has evolved into a given name that can be used for both boys and girls. It is often associated with the famous American filmmaker and comedian Abbott and Costello, whose stage act was one of the most popular comedy acts in history during the mid-20th century.
The name Abbott experienced significant fluctuations in popularity over the past century and a half. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it was relatively uncommon, with fewer than 10 births per year most years. However, there were notable peaks in the teens and even twenties during World War I and the years immediately following (1914-1923). After a decline in the late 1920s and early 1930s, Abbott's popularity rebounded in the post-WWII era, with consistent numbers in the double digits from 1945 onwards. The name reached its modern peak in the mid-2010s, with over 50 births per year recorded between 2013 and 2017, before dropping off slightly in recent years. Overall, Abbott has seen a total of 1,238 births since 1880.