The spelling of the word "Harriott" can be a bit confusing to some. It is pronounced /ˈhærɪət/ in IPA phonetic transcription, with stress on the second syllable. The first syllable is pronounced with the short "a" sound, followed by the "r" sound. The second syllable starts with the "i" sound, followed by the "ə" sound (also known as the schwa sound), and ends with the "t" sound. The double "r" and single "t" at the end can be easy to mix up, but with practice, the spelling of "Harriott" can be mastered.
The surname "Harriott" is derived from the Old English personal name "Herewiht" or "Harriwic", which itself originated from the elements "here", meaning "army" or "warrior", and "wiht" or "wic", meaning "battle" or "strife". Over time, this personal name evolved into different forms such as "Harryet", "Harriet", and eventually "Harriott". The name was often given as a baptismal name to children in medieval times, and eventually turned into a surname as well.