Family name origins & meanings
- Polish (Piłat), Czech and Slovak (Pilát), and French : from Latin Pilatus, name of the Roman governor of Judea who interrogated Christ, then ‘washed his hands’ of responsibility for his crucifixion. This was used as a nickname for someone who would take no responsibility, or perhaps for someone who had played the role of Pontius Pilate in a pageant or passion play.
- French : habitational name from Pilat in Gironde, Le Mont Pilat in Loire, or Pilate in Cher.