UK surname
A surname likely derived from an old German word meaning "wanderer" or "traveler."
In the 1881 census there were 22 people recorded with the Balter surname, ranking it #30,464 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 9, ranked #37,705, down from #30,464 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Darlaston and Stafford St Mary and St Chad, Tillington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Balter is 267 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 59.1%.
1881 census count
22
Ranked #30,464
Modern count
9
2016, ranked #37,705
Peak year
1861
267 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Balter surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Balter surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 11 | #31,309 |
| 1861 | historical | 267 | #9,290 |
| 1881 | historical | 22 | #30,464 |
| 1891 | historical | 131 | #20,073 |
| 1901 | historical | 36 | #30,099 |
| 1911 | historical | 22 | #31,030 |
| 1997 | modern | 13 | #36,672 |
| 1998 | modern | 7 | #37,533 |
| 1999 | modern | 7 | #37,513 |
| 2000 | modern | 7 | #37,430 |
| 2001 | modern | 6 | #37,456 |
| 2002 | modern | 6 | #37,532 |
| 2003 | modern | 4 | #37,951 |
| 2004 | modern | 4 | #38,013 |
| 2005 | modern | 2 | #38,532 |
| 2006 | modern | 2 | #38,590 |
| 2007 | modern | 2 | #38,617 |
| 2008 | modern | 3 | #38,396 |
| 2009 | modern | 3 | #38,494 |
| 2010 | modern | 3 | #38,552 |
| 2011 | modern | 4 | #38,338 |
| 2012 | modern | 7 | #37,854 |
| 2013 | modern | 8 | #37,767 |
| 2014 | modern | 9 | #37,679 |
| 2015 | modern | 9 | #37,684 |
| 2016 | modern | 9 | #37,705 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Darlaston, Stafford St Mary and St Chad, Tillington, Doncaster and Edinburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 2 | Darlaston | Staffordshire |
| 3 | Stafford St Mary and St Chad, Tillington | Staffordshire |
| 4 | Doncaster | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 5 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Balter surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Balter, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Balter surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Balter household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Balter is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Balter is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Balter, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Balter is believed to have originated in England, with its earliest known records dating back to the 16th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English word "balters," which referred to individuals who were engaged in the trade of making and selling baldrics or belts.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Balter can be found in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Nottingham, where a certain John Balter was listed as a resident in the year 1583. Another early reference to the name appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1609, which mention a Thomas Balter residing in the village of Slaughter.
During the 17th century, the surname Balter began to spread across various regions of England, with notable bearers including William Balter, a merchant from London who was active in the early 1600s, and Robert Balter, a farmer from the village of Swinbrook in Oxfordshire, recorded in the Hearth Tax records of 1662.
In the 18th century, the name Balter gained some prominence with the birth of Sir Thomas Balter (1715-1792), a prominent lawyer and politician who served as the Lord Mayor of London from 1768 to 1769. Another notable figure was John Balter (1738-1817), a renowned clockmaker from the town of Stratford-upon-Avon, whose intricate timepieces were highly sought after by the nobility of the time.
As the Industrial Revolution swept across Britain in the 19th century, many Balters migrated to urban centers in search of employment. One such individual was Michael Balter (1825-1899), a skilled weaver from the town of Tiverton in Devon, who later became a prominent figure in the textile industry of Manchester.
Other notable bearers of the Balter surname include Elizabeth Balter (1860-1937), an influential educator and advocate for women's rights, who founded the Balter School for Girls in London, and Sir Edward Balter (1882-1962), a distinguished military officer who served with distinction in both World Wars and was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery during the Battle of the Somme in 1916.
While the surname Balter is not among the most common in England today, it has a rich and diverse history that spans several centuries, with bearers contributing to various fields, from law and politics to industry and military service.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Balter surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Wiltshire leads with 6 Balters recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.65x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Wiltshire | 6 | 31.65x |
| Middlesex | 4 | 1.87x |
| Norfolk | 3 | 9.10x |
| Lincolnshire | 2 | 5.83x |
| Surrey | 2 | 1.91x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.94x |
| Devon | 1 | 2.24x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 2.38x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 3.46x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edington in Wiltshire leads with 6 Balters recorded in 1881 and an index of 8571.43x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Edington | 6 | 8571.43x |
| Marham | 3 | 5000.00x |
| Chelsea London | 2 | 30.96x |
| Guildford St Nicholas | 2 | 1111.11x |
| Hoyland Nether | 2 | 384.62x |
| St Swithin Lincoln | 2 | 370.37x |
| Bishops Nympton | 1 | 1111.11x |
| Chiswick | 1 | 85.47x |
| Isleworth | 1 | 105.26x |
| Newark Upon Trent | 1 | 96.15x |
| Stonehouse | 1 | 416.67x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Balter surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Balter surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Balter households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Ag Lab | 2 |
| Annuitant | 2 |
| Dom Serv Unemployed | 2 |
| Musician German Band | 2 |
| Dealer Cloth | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Farm Serv (Indoors) | 1 |
| Governess | 1 |
| Iron Moulder | 1 |
| Pri Governess | 1 |
| Scholar | 1 |
| Serv | 1 |
| Straw Bonnet Maker | 1 |
| Time Keeper | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 22 people were recorded with the Balter surname. That placed it at #30,464 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 9 in 2016. That gives Balter a modern rank of #37,705.
A surname likely derived from an old German word meaning "wanderer" or "traveler."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Balter bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.