Waightstill

Waightstill is an extremely rare and unusual English surname that was adopted as a given name, primarily in colonial America. It belongs to a category of Puritan virtue names, though it's more of a descriptive phrase than a typical virtue like 'Faith' or 'Hope'. The name likely originated as a nickname or an occupational surname for someone who was patient or perhaps a sentinel. Its use as a first name is almost exclusively tied to a specific family line in the American colonies.

The most prominent bearer, Waightstill Avery, was a significant figure in American Revolutionary War history, serving as North Carolina's first Attorney General. His unique name was passed down through generations of his family, contributing to its very limited and localized usage. It stands as a fascinating example of how surnames, especially those with a clear, albeit unusual, meaning, could be repurposed as given names during certain historical periods.