UK surname
An occupational surname derived from the Old English word "cutler", referring to a maker of knives or cutlery.
In the 1881 census there were 212 people recorded with the Cuttler surname, ranking it #12,373 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 56, ranked #34,562, down from #12,373 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Northfield, Manchester and St Mary Stratford-le-Bow. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cuttler is 212 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 73.6%.
1881 census count
212
Ranked #12,373
Modern count
56
2016, ranked #34,562
Peak year
1881
212 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Cuttler surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Cuttler surname density by area, 1881 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 | 153 | #12,721 |
| 1861 | historical | 184 | #12,856 |
| 1881 | historical | 212 | #12,373 |
| 1891 | historical | 208 | #14,496 |
| 1901 | historical | 145 | #18,426 |
| 1911 | historical | 172 | #16,408 |
| 1997 | modern | 70 | #30,618 |
| 1998 | modern | 69 | #31,076 |
| 1999 | modern | 66 | #31,509 |
| 2000 | modern | 60 | #32,124 |
| 2001 | modern | 59 | #32,080 |
| 2002 | modern | 56 | #32,753 |
| 2003 | modern | 51 | #33,266 |
| 2004 | modern | 49 | #33,647 |
| 2005 | modern | 53 | #33,528 |
| 2006 | modern | 53 | #33,854 |
| 2007 | modern | 57 | #33,800 |
| 2008 | modern | 56 | #34,084 |
| 2009 | modern | 58 | #34,144 |
| 2010 | modern | 56 | #34,480 |
| 2011 | modern | 55 | #34,502 |
| 2012 | modern | 62 | #34,155 |
| 2013 | modern | 64 | #34,127 |
| 2014 | modern | 61 | #34,343 |
| 2015 | modern | 59 | #34,407 |
| 2016 | modern | 56 | #34,562 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Northfield, Manchester, St Mary Stratford-le-Bow, Oldswinford and Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire). 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 | Northfield | Worcestershire |
| 2 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 3 | St Mary Stratford-le-Bow | London (East Districts) |
| 4 | Oldswinford | Worcestershire |
| 5 | Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire) | Staffordshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Cuttler 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 Cuttler, 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 Cuttler surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Cuttler 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, Cuttler 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 Cuttler is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Cuttler, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Cuttler is of English origin, traced back to the medieval occupation of a cutler, or someone who made and sold knives, scissors, and other cutting implements. The name derives from the Old English word "cutelere," which itself came from the Old French "coutelier."
Cuttlers were skilled craftsmen essential to everyday life in medieval times. The Worshipful Company of Cutlers, a livery company in London, dates back to the 13th century, indicating the antiquity of the trade and the surname. Early records show the name spelled various ways, such as Cutler, Cutlere, Cuttler, and Cuttellere.
One of the earliest documented instances of the surname Cuttler appears in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a census of landowners in England. This record lists a Richard le Cutteler from Norfolk. Another early mention is found in the Yorkshire Poll Tax of 1379, which includes a John Cutteler.
In the 16th century, a Cuttler family resided in the village of Smethcott, Shropshire. A John Cuttler was born there around 1530. The nearby town of Cuttlestowne likely derived its name from this family. In 1586, William Cuttler, a renowned clockmaker, was born in Wheldrake, Yorkshire. He later served as a Warden of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers.
During the English Civil War, Colonel Thomas Cuttler (1613-1661) fought for the Parliamentarian forces, commanding a regiment of dragoons. He was present at the Battle of Naseby in 1645. After the war, he served as Governor of Gloucester and Hereford.
Nathaniel Cuttler (1623-1694) was an English clergyman and academic who became President of Corpus Christi College, Oxford, in 1686. He published several theological works during his lifetime.
In the 18th century, Sir John Cuttler (1728-1791) was a prominent British naval officer who served with distinction in the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War. He was knighted for his service in 1778.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cuttler 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. Staffordshire leads with 34 Cuttlers recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.87x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Staffordshire | 34 | 4.87x |
| Yorkshire | 24 | 1.17x |
| Buckinghamshire | 23 | 18.40x |
| Lancashire | 20 | 0.82x |
| Dorset | 19 | 14.00x |
| Middlesex | 17 | 0.82x |
| Worcestershire | 15 | 5.55x |
| Surrey | 13 | 1.29x |
| Hampshire | 11 | 2.60x |
| Warwickshire | 10 | 1.92x |
| Lincolnshire | 7 | 2.12x |
| Durham | 5 | 0.81x |
| Bedfordshire | 4 | 3.74x |
| Derbyshire | 4 | 1.24x |
| Leicestershire | 2 | 0.87x |
| Nottinghamshire | 2 | 0.72x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.23x |
| Somerset | 1 | 0.30x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wing in Buckinghamshire leads with 23 Cuttlers recorded in 1881 and an index of 1982.76x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Cuttler surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Sarah | 15 |
| Elizabeth | 10 |
| Mary | 8 |
| Emma | 6 |
| Ann | 5 |
| Eliza | 4 |
| Emily | 4 |
| Harriet | 4 |
| Martha | 4 |
| Annie | 3 |
| Edith | 3 |
| Louisa | 3 |
| Lucy | 3 |
| Ada | 2 |
| Alice | 2 |
| Fanny | 2 |
| Florence | 2 |
| Hannah | 2 |
| Harriett | 2 |
| Jane | 2 |
| Margaret | 2 |
| Minnie | 2 |
| Agnes | 1 |
| Amelia | 1 |
| Amy | 1 |
| Anne | 1 |
| Caroline | 1 |
| Catherine | 1 |
| Charlotte | 1 |
| Ellen | 1 |
| Emiley | 1 |
| Hellina | 1 |
| Jemimea | 1 |
| Kate | 1 |
| Kezia | 1 |
| Lilly | 1 |
| Lily | 1 |
| Loisa | 1 |
| Lottie | 1 |
| Mathild | 1 |
| Naomi | 1 |
| Pheobe | 1 |
| Prisilla | 1 |
| Rebecca | 1 |
| Sabina | 1 |
| Seline | 1 |
| Selissa | 1 |
| Sophia | 1 |
| Susan | 1 |
| Susannah | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Cuttler surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| John | 13 |
| William | 9 |
| Charles | 8 |
| Thomas | 8 |
| James | 7 |
| George | 6 |
| Joseph | 5 |
| Samuel | 4 |
| David | 3 |
| Henry | 3 |
| Isaac | 3 |
| Richard | 2 |
| Sidney | 2 |
| Abraham | 1 |
| Agustus | 1 |
| Alfred | 1 |
| Andrew | 1 |
| Arthur | 1 |
| Benjamin | 1 |
| Ed. | 1 |
| Edwd.W. | 1 |
| Edwin | 1 |
| Ernest | 1 |
| Frederick | 1 |
| Fredk.J. | 1 |
| Geo. | 1 |
| Issacher | 1 |
| Jessie | 1 |
| Job | 1 |
| Josiah | 1 |
| Mansell | 1 |
| Matthew | 1 |
| Reuben | 1 |
| Thos. | 1 |
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 Cuttler households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 44 |
| Straw Plaiter | 6 |
| Agrl Lab | 5 |
| Coal Miner | 5 |
| Boatman | 2 |
| Engineer (& M) | 2 |
| Farmer Son | 2 |
| Hand Loom Cotton Weaver | 2 |
| Hawker | 2 |
| Housewife | 2 |
| Milliner | 2 |
| Nut & Bolt Maker | 2 |
| Parlour Maid | 2 |
| Scrap Dealer | 2 |
| Serv Domestic | 2 |
| Blacksmith Striker | 1 |
| Bricklayer | 1 |
| Butcher | 1 |
| Carpenter & C | 1 |
| Carter Agr | 1 |
| Chain Maker | 1 |
| Clerk | 1 |
| Coach Smith | 1 |
| Cook | 1 |
| Cotton Weaver | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Domestic Servt | 1 |
| Engine Driver | 1 |
| Farm Labourer | 1 |
| Farm Servant | 1 |
| Farmer (Of 17 Acres) | 1 |
| Farmer Daughter | 1 |
| Farmer Of 10 Acres & Labourer | 1 |
| Farmer Of 56 Acres 2 Men | 1 |
| Farmer Of 7 Acres | 1 |
| General Laborer | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| Genl Labourer | 1 |
| Gun Engraver | 1 |
| House Keeper | 1 |
| Invalide (Pauper) | 1 |
| Iron Puddler | 1 |
| Iron Roller | 1 |
| Lab Iron Wks | 1 |
| Laborer Ag | 1 |
| Laborer Bricklayer | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Labourer At Docks | 1 |
| Labourer Colliery | 1 |
| Weaver Cotton | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 212 people were recorded with the Cuttler surname. That placed it at #12,373 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 56 in 2016. That gives Cuttler a modern rank of #34,562.
An occupational surname derived from the Old English word "cutler", referring to a maker of knives or cutlery.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Cuttler 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.