Hyatt

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A large American company that operates upscale hotel and resort properties around the world ; a family surname of English origin carried by various people
2. An international lodging business known for its luxury and full-service hotels ; a surname shared by many people, especially in the United States
3. A major hospitality brand running upmarket hotels worldwide ; a last name borne by numerous individuals of English descent

Etymology: The surname "Hyatt" is not a common word with a dictionary meaning but a family name, and its origins are split between two quite different sources. One is Hebrew: the name may come from "khayát," the Hebrew word for "tailor," which points to a trade rather than a place or a father's name. Jewish families who took or were given surnames in this way often ended up with names drawn from occupations, and this is one plausible route for the name. The other explanation is English. Hyatt may be a variant of "Highet," a name with roots in Britain, so the surname can arise independently in more than one community. Because surnames were often spelled loosely before standard spelling existed, a single spelling like "Hyatt" can hide several separate histories. The name therefore cannot be traced to one origin, and the two routes above remain the main explanations.