NameCensus.

UK surname

Counter

A surname referring to a bookkeeper or bank clerk who counted money or kept accounts.

In the 1881 census there were 309 people recorded with the Counter surname, ranking it #9,517 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 299, ranked #14,770, down from #9,517 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Tormoham with Torquay, London parishes and Christow. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, West Devon and Stockton-on-Tees.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Counter is 488 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 3.2%.

1881 census count

309

Ranked #9,517

Modern count

299

2016, ranked #14,770

Peak year

1911

488 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Counter had 309 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,517 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 299 in 2016, ranked #14,770.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 488 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Counter surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Counter surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Counter 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 221 #9,630
1861 historical 195 #12,263
1881 historical 309 #9,517
1891 historical 429 #8,359
1901 historical 423 #9,113
1911 historical 488 #7,980
1997 modern 316 #13,080
1998 modern 318 #13,362
1999 modern 316 #13,505
2000 modern 330 #13,066
2001 modern 307 #13,539
2002 modern 292 #14,236
2003 modern 283 #14,368
2004 modern 284 #14,377
2005 modern 272 #14,742
2006 modern 282 #14,459
2007 modern 279 #14,732
2008 modern 291 #14,430
2009 modern 303 #14,315
2010 modern 311 #14,345
2011 modern 303 #14,506
2012 modern 294 #14,705
2013 modern 292 #15,027
2014 modern 296 #14,982
2015 modern 293 #15,005
2016 modern 299 #14,770

Geography

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Where Counters are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Tormoham with Torquay, London parishes, Christow, Blandford Town, Pimperne and Kenton, Alphington, Dawlish. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, West Devon and Stockton-on-Tees. 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 Tormoham with Torquay Devon
2 London parishes London 3
3 Christow Devon
4 Blandford Town, Pimperne Dorset
5 Kenton, Alphington, Dawlish Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 043 Cornwall
2 West Devon 002 West Devon
3 Stockton-on-Tees 022 Stockton-on-Tees
4 Stockton-on-Tees 006 Stockton-on-Tees
5 West Devon 003 West Devon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Counter

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Counter

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Counter, 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 Counter surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Counter household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Counter is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Counter is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Counter 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 Counter 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 Counter, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Counter

The surname Counter originated in England during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old French word "contor," which means an accountant or a person who counts or keeps tallies. The name likely referred to someone who worked as a clerk, bookkeeper, or tax collector.

During the 13th century, the name Counter began appearing in various records and documents across England. One of the earliest recorded instances was in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire in 1273, which mentioned a William le Counter.

In the 14th century, the name Counter was found in several Yorkshire records, including the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379, which listed a Roger Counter and a William Counter. This suggests that the name was particularly prevalent in the northern counties of England during that time period.

The surname Counter also appeared in the famous Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of land ownership and taxation ordered by William the Conqueror after the Norman Conquest of England. The book mentioned a landowner named Radulfus le Countor in Hampshire, indicating the early presence of the name in southern England as well.

One notable figure bearing the surname Counter was Sir John Counter (c. 1545-1593), an English soldier and member of parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He served as a captain in the English army and was knighted for his military service.

Another prominent individual with this surname was Thomas Counter (1636-1689), an English nonconformist minister and writer who was imprisoned for his religious beliefs during the Restoration period.

In the 18th century, a man named Edward Counter (1720-1800) gained recognition as a successful merchant and landowner in Bristol, England. He was also involved in local politics and served as a city councilor.

The surname Counter also has connections to place names in England. For example, the village of Counter Hill in Berkshire may have derived its name from the Counter family who lived in the area during medieval times.

Other early spellings of the surname included Countor, Countour, and Countere, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation that were common in earlier centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Counter families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Counter 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. Devon leads with 160 Counters recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.42x.

County Total Index
Devon 160 25.42x
Middlesex 55 1.82x
Dorset 24 12.09x
Lancashire 13 0.36x
Durham 9 1.00x
Gloucestershire 9 1.52x
Essex 5 0.84x
Glamorgan 5 0.95x
Lanarkshire 4 0.41x
Surrey 4 0.27x
Yorkshire 4 0.13x
Hampshire 3 0.48x
Suffolk 3 0.81x
Warwickshire 3 0.39x
Midlothian 2 0.49x
Worcestershire 2 0.51x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.82x
Cumberland 1 0.38x
Pembrokeshire 1 1.04x
Royal Navy 1 2.78x
Sussex 1 0.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Plymouth Charles The in Devon leads with 26 Counters recorded in 1881 and an index of 93.76x.

Place Total Index
Plymouth Charles The 26 93.76x
South Tawton 25 1923.08x
Blandford Forum 24 612.24x
Mile End Old Town London 15 23.31x
Kenton 13 653.27x
Ipplepen 10 1162.79x
Bridford 9 2000.00x
Stockton On Tees 9 20.76x
Ide 8 1159.42x
Bickington 7 2800.00x
Christow 7 1147.54x
Exeter Alphington 7 608.70x
Bethnal Green London 6 4.57x
Chelsea London 6 6.58x
St Giles In Fields London 6 40.43x
Barrow In Furness 5 10.25x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 5 8.95x
Chorlton On Medlock 5 8.77x
Cockington 5 1351.35x
East Stonehouse 5 40.32x
Plymouth St Andrew 5 10.31x
Tiverton 5 46.13x
Tormoham 5 18.78x
Ystradyfodwg 5 10.82x
Govan 4 1.65x
St George Hanover Square 4 7.51x
St Luke London 4 8.25x
Aldershot 3 14.45x
Bristol St Paul In 3 18.99x
Hackney London 3 1.77x
Ipswich St Margaret 3 24.00x
Leamington Priors 3 15.99x
Moreton Hampstead 3 184.05x
Tottington Lower End 3 17.60x
West Ham 3 2.28x
Ashburton 2 66.45x
Barking 2 11.45x
Cadeleigh 2 800.00x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 2 1.23x
Exeter St Thomas The 2 31.15x
Kidderminster Foreign 2 35.84x
Richmond 2 9.69x
Skipton 2 21.21x
St Bartholomew Less 2 128.21x
St George In East London 2 7.03x
St Pancras London 2 0.82x
Wolborough 2 25.13x
Albury 1 74.63x
Bradninch 1 56.18x
Broadhempston 1 169.49x
Caterham 1 15.36x
Clerkenwell London 1 1.40x
Crediton 1 16.78x
Dartmouth Townstall 1 39.06x
Doddiscombsleigh 1 384.62x
Drewsteignton 1 120.48x
Ealing 1 3.70x
Exeter Heavitree 1 21.32x
Hammersmith London 1 1.34x
Hastings Holy Trinity 1 26.60x
Ideford 1 344.83x
Kilnsea 1 500.00x
Leeds 1 0.59x
Littleham 1 21.74x
Llandudno 1 22.94x
Millom 1 12.53x
North Tawton 1 51.81x
Paddington London 1 0.90x
Paignton 1 20.88x
Royal Navy 1 3.25x
Sampford Courtenay 1 106.38x
St Anne Soho London 1 5.79x
Steynton 1 32.15x
Westbury On Trym 1 4.98x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 32
Elizabeth 13
Eliza 8
Emma 7
Ellen 6
Amelia 5
Ann 5
Caroline 5
Louisa 5
Emily 4
Alice 3
Clara 3
Jane 3
Kate 3
Sarah 3
Annie 2
Bertha 2
Bessie 2
Harriet 2
Lucy 2
Maria 2
Selina 2
Anna 1
Betsy 1
Charlotte 1
Daisy 1
Dorothy 1
E. 1
E.M. 1
Edith 1
Eliz. 1
Elizth. 1
Florence 1
Grace 1
Gwenllian 1
H.C.G. 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Jeraldine 1
Kathleen 1
Lottie 1
Lydia 1
Margaret 1
Martha 1
Maryann 1
May 1
Ophelia 1
Patience 1
Rose 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 32
John 22
George 20
James 14
Samuel 6
Charles 5
Henry 5
Albert 3
Alfred 3
Arthur 3
Francis 3
Frederick 3
Richard 3
Thomas 3
Edward 2
Frank 2
Fredk. 2
Robert 2
Augustus 1
David 1
E. 1
Edwin 1
Eli 1
Ernest 1
Frances 1
Fredr. 1
Hardine 1
Harry 1
Hugh 1
J.K. 1
Job 1
Jonathan 1
Joseph 1
Nelson 1
Percy 1
W. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Counter surname: questions and answers

How common was the Counter surname in 1881?

In 1881, 309 people were recorded with the Counter surname. That placed it at #9,517 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Counter surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 299 in 2016. That gives Counter a modern rank of #14,770.

What does the Counter surname mean?

A surname referring to a bookkeeper or bank clerk who counted money or kept accounts.

What does the Counter map show?

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