NameCensus.

UK surname

Boyter

A geographical surname referring to someone from a particular area near the River Boyne.

In the 1881 census there were 111 people recorded with the Boyter surname, ranking it #18,597 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 114, ranked #28,515, down from #18,597 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Cupar, Govan Combination and St. Monance. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Anstruther, St Monans and Pittenweem and Chiltern.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Boyter is 170 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 2.7%.

1881 census count

111

Ranked #18,597

Modern count

114

2016, ranked #28,515

Peak year

1861

170 bearers

Map years

7

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Boyter had 111 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,597 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 114 in 2016, ranked #28,515.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 170 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Boyter surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Boyter surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Boyter 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 60 #22,584
1861 historical 170 #13,763
1881 historical 111 #18,597
1891 historical 139 #19,311
1901 historical 120 #20,545
1911 historical 7 #33,083
1997 modern 100 #26,901
1998 modern 104 #26,981
1999 modern 98 #28,050
2000 modern 107 #26,700
2001 modern 104 #26,765
2002 modern 102 #27,596
2003 modern 102 #27,383
2004 modern 110 #26,451
2005 modern 112 #26,114
2006 modern 110 #26,717
2007 modern 115 #26,348
2008 modern 117 #26,351
2009 modern 125 #25,823
2010 modern 124 #26,582
2011 modern 127 #25,926
2012 modern 118 #27,250
2013 modern 121 #27,255
2014 modern 122 #27,358
2015 modern 113 #28,645
2016 modern 114 #28,515

Geography

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Where Boyters are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Cupar, Govan Combination, St. Monance, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Anstruther, St Monans and Pittenweem, Chiltern, Kettle and Ladybank and South Gloucestershire. 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 Cupar Fife
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 St. Monance Fife
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Anstruther Fife
2 St Monans and Pittenweem Fife
3 Chiltern 001 Chiltern
4 Kettle and Ladybank Fife
5 South Gloucestershire 011 South Gloucestershire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Boyter

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Boyter

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Boyter, 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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Boyter surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Boyter household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

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Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Boyter is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Boyter is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Boyter falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Boyter is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Boyter

The surname Boyter has its origins in England, emerging in the early 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "bote," which referred to a small dwelling or hut, often associated with farming communities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire from 1327, where it is listed as "Boyter." This suggests that the name was already well-established in the region during that period.

As the name spread across different counties in England, various spellings emerged, such as Boyter, Boiter, and Boyter. These variations likely arose due to regional dialects and the inconsistencies in record-keeping at the time.

The name Boyter has been linked to several notable figures throughout history. One of the earliest recorded individuals was John Boyter, who lived in Cheshire during the late 14th century and was mentioned in the Cheshire County Records of 1387.

In the 16th century, a prominent figure named William Boyter was a merchant and landowner in the county of Somerset. His holdings were documented in the Somerset Manorial Records of 1568.

During the 17th century, the name gained prominence in the village of Weston-under-Lizard in Staffordshire, where several families bearing the surname Boyter were recorded in the parish records from the 1640s onward.

An influential figure from this era was Thomas Boyter (1624-1688), a prosperous farmer and landowner in Weston-under-Lizard. He played a significant role in the local community and was mentioned in various historical records, including the Staffordshire Hearth Tax records of 1666.

Another notable individual was Richard Boyter (1709-1782), a prominent merchant and ship owner from Bristol. He was involved in the thriving trade between England and the British colonies in the Americas, and his name appears in numerous shipping records and trade documents from the mid-18th century.

In the 19th century, the name Boyter gained recognition with the achievements of James Boyter (1819-1892), a celebrated architect from Yorkshire. He was responsible for designing several notable buildings, including the Town Hall in Wakefield (1875) and St. Paul's Church in Huddersfield (1884).

Throughout its history, the surname Boyter has maintained a presence in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Staffordshire, Cheshire, Somerset, and Yorkshire. While not a widespread name, it has persisted over centuries, reflecting the enduring legacy of its origins in the rural communities of medieval England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Boyter families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Boyter 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. Fife leads with 83 Boyters recorded in 1881 and an index of 129.51x.

County Total Index
Fife 83 129.51x
Angus 8 7.98x
Lanarkshire 5 1.43x
Midlothian 5 3.45x
Worcestershire 4 2.83x
Middlesex 3 0.28x
Lancashire 2 0.16x
Essex 1 0.47x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kilrenny in Fife leads with 61 Boyters recorded in 1881 and an index of 5126.05x.

Place Total Index
Kilrenny 61 5126.05x
St Monance 12 1558.44x
Dundee 7 18.70x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 5 8.57x
Govan 5 5.77x
Pittenweem 4 506.33x
St Andrews 4 136.99x
Wolverley 4 322.58x
St Marylebone London 3 5.19x
Anstruther Easter 2 434.78x
Oldham 2 4.82x
Monifieth 1 28.25x
Walton Le Soken 1 196.08x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 1
Hannah 1
Lucy 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Edward 1
George 1
Henry 1
Robert 1
Thomas 1
Will. 1
William 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 Boyter households.

FAQ

Boyter surname: questions and answers

How common was the Boyter surname in 1881?

In 1881, 111 people were recorded with the Boyter surname. That placed it at #18,597 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Boyter surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 114 in 2016. That gives Boyter a modern rank of #28,515.

What does the Boyter surname mean?

A geographical surname referring to someone from a particular area near the River Boyne.

What does the Boyter map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Boyter 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.