NameCensus.

UK surname

Alter

A German and Jewish occupational surname referring to a person who served as a caretaker or verger.

In the 1881 census there were 25 people recorded with the Alter surname, ranking it #30,077 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 107, ranked #29,762, up from #30,077 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Watford, Hackney and Redbridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Alter is 107 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 328.0%.

1881 census count

25

Ranked #30,077

Modern count

107

2016, ranked #29,762

Peak year

2016

107 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Alter had 25 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,077 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 107 in 2016, ranked #29,762.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 95 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Alter surname distribution map

The map shows where the Alter surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Alter surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Alter over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 31 #27,734
1861 historical 95 #21,768
1881 historical 25 #30,077
1891 historical 69 #28,188
1901 historical 36 #30,099
1911 historical 59 #26,914
1997 modern 70 #30,618
1998 modern 72 #30,775
1999 modern 71 #31,036
2000 modern 81 #30,036
2001 modern 78 #30,168
2002 modern 65 #31,903
2003 modern 66 #31,879
2004 modern 80 #30,679
2005 modern 78 #31,058
2006 modern 76 #31,633
2007 modern 84 #31,067
2008 modern 85 #31,247
2009 modern 83 #31,950
2010 modern 89 #31,745
2011 modern 79 #32,743
2012 modern 90 #31,790
2013 modern 101 #30,591
2014 modern 105 #30,204
2015 modern 103 #30,444
2016 modern 107 #29,762

Geography

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Where Alters are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Watford, Hackney, Redbridge, Torbay and Enfield. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Watford 007 Watford
2 Hackney 001 Hackney
3 Redbridge 010 Redbridge
4 Torbay 019 Torbay
5 Enfield 010 Enfield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Alter

These lists show first names that appear often with the Alter surname in historical and recent records.

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Alter

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Alter, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Alter surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Alter household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Alter is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Alter is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Alter falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Alter is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Alter, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Alter

The surname Alter is of German origin, deriving from the Middle High German word "alter" meaning "old" or "ancient." It is believed to have originated as an occupational surname, referring to an elder or older person in a community or village.

The earliest known record of the name dates back to the 13th century in the German states of Bavaria and Saxony. It appears in various medieval records and manuscripts, often spelled as "Alter" or "Alder."

In the 14th century, the name Alter can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae, a collection of historical documents from Saxony. This suggests that the name was well-established in this region during that period.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Alter was Johannes Alter, a German scholar and theologian who lived in the late 15th century (c. 1450-1515). He was a prominent figure in the early days of the Protestant Reformation and served as a professor at the University of Leipzig.

Another notable bearer of the name was Johann Nepomuk Alter (1793-1853), a German Catholic priest and theologian. He was a renowned scholar and writer, known for his work on ecclesiastical history and canon law.

In the 16th century, the name Alter was also found in the town of Altenburg in the German state of Thuringia. This place name, derived from the German words "alt" (old) and "burg" (castle), may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname in that region.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Alter surname spread throughout various German-speaking areas, including present-day Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It can be found in numerous historical records and documents from this period.

One notable individual from this time was Johann Matthias Alter (1707-1781), a German composer and organist who served as the Kapellmeister (music director) at the court of the Prince-Bishop of Eichstätt.

In the 19th century, the surname Alter continued to be prevalent in German-speaking regions, and it also began to appear in other parts of Europe and the Americas due to emigration. For example, the Austrian painter and etcher Rudolf von Alter (1812-1905) was a well-known artist in his time.

Over the centuries, the surname Alter has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, religious figures, artists, and professionals. It remains a prominent surname in Germany and other German-speaking countries, as well as among descendants of German immigrants around the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Alter families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Alter surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lincolnshire leads with 8 Alters recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.53x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 8 20.53x
Yorkshire 5 2.07x
Lancashire 4 1.38x
Leicestershire 4 14.81x
Middlesex 1 0.41x
Nottinghamshire 1 3.05x
Sussex 1 2.43x
Wiltshire 1 4.64x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Baston in Lincolnshire leads with 7 Alters recorded in 1881 and an index of 11666.67x.

Place Total Index
Baston 7 11666.67x
Quorndon 4 2666.67x
Toxteth Park 4 40.86x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 3 133.33x
Ecclesall Bierlow 1 20.37x
Hampton London 1 250.00x
Hastings St Leonards 1 166.67x
Kirkby Moorside 1 666.67x
Osbournby 1 2500.00x
Salisbury St Martin 1 454.55x
Sibthorpe 1 10000.00x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Alter surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Alice 2
Elizabeth 2
Annie 1
Blanch 1
Catherine 1
Emily 1
Esther 1
Frances 1
Jane 1
Mary 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Alter surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 2
Alfred 1
Allen 1
David 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
James 1
Jessie 1
Thomas 1
Tom. 1
Wm. 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Alter households.

FAQ

Alter surname: questions and answers

How common was the Alter surname in 1881?

In 1881, 25 people were recorded with the Alter surname. That placed it at #30,077 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Alter surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 107 in 2016. That gives Alter a modern rank of #29,762.

What does the Alter surname mean?

A German and Jewish occupational surname referring to a person who served as a caretaker or verger.

What does the Alter map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Alter bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.