UK surname
A surname derived from the Dutch word for "butter seller" or "dairyman."
In the 1881 census there were 5 people recorded with the Buter surname, ranking it #33,110 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 14, ranked #37,178, down from #33,110 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Glossop, Bottisham and Tottenham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Buter is 111 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 180.0%.
1881 census count
5
Ranked #33,110
Modern count
14
2016, ranked #37,178
Peak year
1861
111 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Buter surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Buter surname density by area, 1861 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 | 34 | #27,194 |
| 1861 | historical | 111 | #19,429 |
| 1881 | historical | 5 | #33,110 |
| 1891 | historical | 49 | #30,349 |
| 1901 | historical | 18 | #32,032 |
| 1911 | historical | 25 | #30,654 |
| 1997 | modern | 12 | #36,785 |
| 1998 | modern | 10 | #37,048 |
| 1999 | modern | 21 | #35,810 |
| 2000 | modern | 11 | #36,879 |
| 2001 | modern | 5 | #37,652 |
| 2002 | modern | 7 | #37,379 |
| 2003 | modern | 5 | #37,750 |
| 2004 | modern | 7 | #37,496 |
| 2005 | modern | 10 | #37,180 |
| 2006 | modern | 9 | #37,345 |
| 2007 | modern | 9 | #37,435 |
| 2008 | modern | 14 | #36,950 |
| 2009 | modern | 12 | #37,230 |
| 2010 | modern | 14 | #37,124 |
| 2011 | modern | 13 | #37,191 |
| 2012 | modern | 10 | #37,509 |
| 2013 | modern | 13 | #37,224 |
| 2014 | modern | 13 | #37,256 |
| 2015 | modern | 13 | #37,251 |
| 2016 | modern | 14 | #37,178 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Glossop, Bottisham, Tottenham, St Giles Camberwell and St Mary Islington. 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 | Glossop | Derbyshire |
| 2 | Bottisham | Cambridgeshire |
| 3 | Tottenham | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| 4 | St Giles Camberwell | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | St Mary Islington | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Buter 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 Buter, 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 Buter surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Buter 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, Buter 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 Buter is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Buter, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Buter has its origins in the Netherlands, dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Dutch word "boter," which translates to "butter." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to an occupation or profession related to the production or trade of butter.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Buter can be found in the Dutch city of Amsterdam in the late 1500s. In 1589, a merchant named Jan Buter was listed in the city's records as a prominent trader of dairy products, including butter.
Throughout the 17th century, the name Buter appeared in various historical documents across the Netherlands. In 1612, a farmer named Pieter Buter was mentioned in a land deed from the town of Zwolle. Additionally, the Buter surname was present in the birth and marriage records of several Dutch cities, such as Rotterdam and Leiden.
As the Dutch explored and settled in other parts of the world during the Age of Exploration, the name Buter also made its way to other regions. In the late 1600s, a man named Hendrik Buter was among the early Dutch settlers in the Cape Colony of South Africa.
One notable figure bearing the Buter name was Willem Buter, a Dutch painter who lived from 1645 to 1711. He was known for his landscapes and city scenes depicting life in the Netherlands during the Golden Age.
Another prominent individual with the surname Buter was Jacobus Buter, a Dutch military officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars. He was born in 1776 and fought in several battles against the French, eventually rising to the rank of Major General.
In the 19th century, the Buter family name continued to appear in various records across Europe. In 1832, a German immigrant named Johann Buter settled in the United States, bringing the name to the new world. He established a successful dairy farm in Pennsylvania.
Towards the end of the 19th century, a Dutch architect named Pieter Buter made significant contributions to the design of several notable buildings in Amsterdam, including the Centraal Station and the Rijksmuseum.
While the name Buter is not as common today as it once was, it remains a part of the rich historical tapestry of the Netherlands and its diaspora around the world.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Buter 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. Middlesex leads with 2 Buters recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.12x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 2 | 4.12x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 16.35x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 2.08x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Knowle in Warwickshire leads with 2 Buters recorded in 1881 and an index of 6666.67x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Knowle | 2 | 6666.67x |
| Bromley London | 1 | 93.46x |
| Cottingham | 1 | 1000.00x |
| Fulham London | 1 | 142.86x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Buter 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 Buter 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 Buter households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Coach Builder | 1 |
| Dresmaker | 1 |
| Scholar | 1 |
| Superanuated Police Constable | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 5 people were recorded with the Buter surname. That placed it at #33,110 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 14 in 2016. That gives Buter a modern rank of #37,178.
A surname derived from the Dutch word for "butter seller" or "dairyman."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Buter 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.