NameCensus.

UK surname

Demeter

A Greek surname derived from Demeter, the goddess of agriculture and fertility in ancient Greek mythology.

In the 1881 census there were 2 people recorded with the Demeter surname, ranking it #33,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 185, ranked #20,652, up from #33,721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bradford, Brent and Derby.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Demeter is 185 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 9150.0%.

1881 census count

2

Ranked #33,721

Modern count

185

2016, ranked #20,652

Peak year

2016

185 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Demeter had 2 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 185 in 2016, ranked #20,652.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Demeter surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Demeter surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Demeter 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
1861 historical 4 #33,628
1881 historical 2 #33,721
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1997 modern 25 #35,261
1998 modern 22 #35,687
1999 modern 17 #36,261
2000 modern 22 #35,684
2001 modern 21 #35,646
2002 modern 24 #35,520
2003 modern 35 #34,609
2004 modern 43 #34,149
2005 modern 57 #33,178
2006 modern 79 #31,263
2007 modern 91 #30,061
2008 modern 97 #29,527
2009 modern 117 #26,927
2010 modern 138 #24,801
2011 modern 131 #25,430
2012 modern 163 #21,989
2013 modern 170 #21,726
2014 modern 169 #22,006
2015 modern 173 #21,542
2016 modern 185 #20,652

Geography

Back to top

Where Demeters are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bradford, Brent, Derby, Calderdale and Northampton. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bradford 030 Bradford
2 Brent 006 Brent
3 Derby 016 Derby
4 Calderdale 010 Calderdale
5 Northampton 013 Northampton

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Demeter

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Demeter

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students

Nationally, the Demeter surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Demeter household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Married couples with dependent children are common in this Group, with many parents born in Africa or the EU. The representation of residents amongst different ethnic minority groups is high, particularly for individuals of Pakistani ethnic group. For many residents, English is not their main language, and affiliation to Christian religions is less common. Privately rented terrace properties predominate and levels of overcrowding are high. Part time work is common, with many employed in elementary occupations and sales and customer services. There are also many students living within these areas, and overall unemployment levels are high.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Demeter is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Demeter is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Demeter falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Demeter is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Demeter

The surname Demeter originates from Greece, with its earliest recorded usage dating back to ancient times. The name is derived from the Greek word "Demeter," which was the name of the goddess of agriculture, fertility, and the harvest in Greek mythology.

Demeter was a prominent figure in ancient Greek religion and culture, and her name was often used as a personal name or a surname. The name's association with the goddess of agriculture and fertility may have made it a popular choice for families involved in agricultural or rural communities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Demeter can be found in ancient Greek manuscripts and inscriptions. For example, the name appears in the "Attic Inscriptions," a collection of ancient Greek inscriptions from the region of Attica, dating back to the 5th century BCE.

In the Middle Ages, the surname Demeter was prevalent in various regions of Greece, particularly in areas with significant agricultural traditions. Historical records from this period, such as church registers and municipal documents, often mention individuals bearing the surname Demeter.

Notable individuals with the surname Demeter throughout history include:

1. Nikolaos Demeter (c. 1530-1590), a Greek scholar and physician who lived during the Renaissance period. 2. Georgios Demeter (1760-1826), a Greek revolutionary who fought against the Ottoman Empire during the Greek War of Independence. 3. Konstantin Demeter (1857-1923), a Serbian painter and art professor who was known for his portraits and historical paintings. 4. Dimitrios Demeter (1873-1946), a Greek politician and diplomat who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece in the 1920s. 5. Andrei Demeter (1905-1995), a Romanian mathematician and academic who made significant contributions to the field of differential geometry.

The surname Demeter has also been associated with various place names and locations throughout Greece, reflecting the geographic distribution of families bearing this surname. For instance, the village of Demeter in the region of Thessaly is believed to have derived its name from the presence of families with the surname Demeter in the area.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Demeter families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Demeter 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. Middlesex leads with 2 Demeters recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.37x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 2 10.37x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Paddington London in Middlesex leads with 2 Demeters recorded in 1881 and an index of 281.69x.

Place Total Index
Paddington London 2 281.69x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Louise 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Doudouni 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 Demeter households.

Occupation Count
Manager To Wine Merchant 1

FAQ

Demeter surname: questions and answers

How common was the Demeter surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2 people were recorded with the Demeter surname. That placed it at #33,721 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Demeter surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 185 in 2016. That gives Demeter a modern rank of #20,652.

What does the Demeter surname mean?

A Greek surname derived from Demeter, the goddess of agriculture and fertility in ancient Greek mythology.

What does the Demeter map show?

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