NameCensus.

UK surname

Futter

A variant of the surname Futter, originally derived from the Middle English word "fodder", referring to one who worked with feed or fodder.

In the 1881 census there were 456 people recorded with the Futter surname, ranking it #7,255 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 692, ranked #7,773, down from #7,255 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Martham, Stratton St Michael and Burnham Thorpe. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Norfolk, Great Yarmouth and King's Lynn and West Norfolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Futter is 819 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 51.8%.

1881 census count

456

Ranked #7,255

Modern count

692

2016, ranked #7,773

Peak year

1911

819 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Futter had 456 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,255 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 692 in 2016, ranked #7,773.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 819 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Futter surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Futter surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Futter 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 312 #7,397
1861 historical 260 #9,516
1881 historical 456 #7,255
1891 historical 573 #6,640
1901 historical 685 #6,388
1911 historical 819 #5,381
1997 modern 696 #7,278
1998 modern 748 #7,115
1999 modern 749 #7,153
2000 modern 747 #7,124
2001 modern 728 #7,134
2002 modern 729 #7,265
2003 modern 708 #7,309
2004 modern 712 #7,293
2005 modern 717 #7,188
2006 modern 706 #7,301
2007 modern 706 #7,372
2008 modern 698 #7,498
2009 modern 714 #7,527
2010 modern 696 #7,815
2011 modern 684 #7,832
2012 modern 664 #7,933
2013 modern 688 #7,838
2014 modern 687 #7,893
2015 modern 694 #7,769
2016 modern 692 #7,773

Geography

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Where Futters are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Martham, Stratton St Michael, Burnham Thorpe, Elmham, North and Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Norfolk, Great Yarmouth, King's Lynn and West Norfolk and Test Valley. 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 Martham Norfolk
2 Stratton St Michael Norfolk
3 Burnham Thorpe Norfolk
4 Elmham, North Norfolk
5 Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Norfolk 011 North Norfolk
2 Great Yarmouth 003 Great Yarmouth
3 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 003 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
4 North Norfolk 009 North Norfolk
5 Test Valley 009 Test Valley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Futter

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Futter

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Futter is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Futter is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Futter falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Futter 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 Futter, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Futter

The surname FUTTER is believed to have originated in Germany, with the earliest records dating back to the 16th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old German word "futten," which means "to feed" or "to provide nourishment." This suggests that the name may have been initially given as an occupational surname to individuals who worked as feeders or providers of food.

In the medieval period, surnames were often derived from occupations, physical attributes, or places of origin. The name FUTTER could have been associated with individuals who worked as bakers, millers, or farmers, as their primary role was to provide nourishment to others.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name FUTTER can be found in the town records of Augsburg, Germany, where a Johannes Futter was mentioned in 1532. There are also references to the name in the historical records of the city of Nuremberg, suggesting that the name was prevalent in the southern regions of Germany during the 16th and 17th centuries.

As the name spread across Europe, it underwent various spelling variations, such as Futter, Fudder, and Fuder. These variations can be found in historical records from different regions, reflecting the influence of local dialects and scribal practices.

One notable individual with the surname FUTTER was Johann Futter, a German theologian and philosopher who lived from 1557 to 1628. He was a prominent figure in the Protestant Reformation and authored several works on theology and philosophy.

Another individual of note was Hans Futter, a German artist and engraver who lived from 1588 to 1647. He is known for his intricate engravings and woodcuts, many of which depicted religious and mythological scenes.

In the 18th century, a Johann Gottfried Futter (1701-1777) was a respected German jurist and legal scholar. He served as a judge and authored several treatises on legal matters, contributing significantly to the development of German legal thought during his time.

Moving to the 19th century, Carl Futter (1819-1892) was a German botanist and naturalist. He conducted extensive research on plant life and contributed significantly to the field of botany through his publications and discoveries.

In more recent history, Wilhelm Futter (1880-1959) was a German architect and urban planner. He played a significant role in the reconstruction efforts of several German cities after World War II, incorporating modern design principles while preserving historical elements.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Futter families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Futter 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. Norfolk leads with 319 Futters recorded in 1881 and an index of 47.16x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 319 47.16x
Lincolnshire 35 4.98x
Yorkshire 18 0.41x
Kent 13 0.87x
Cambridgeshire 11 3.95x
Suffolk 9 1.68x
Lancashire 8 0.15x
Surrey 8 0.37x
Middlesex 7 0.16x
Essex 6 0.69x
Durham 5 0.38x
Hertfordshire 4 1.32x
Lanarkshire 3 0.21x
Wiltshire 2 0.51x
Cumberland 1 0.26x
Hampshire 1 0.11x
Somerset 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Burnham Thorpe in Norfolk leads with 49 Futters recorded in 1881 and an index of 9245.28x.

Place Total Index
Burnham Thorpe 49 9245.28x
North Elmham 29 1768.29x
Costessey 26 1793.10x
Great Yarmouth 15 26.77x
Skirbeck 13 329.95x
Deal 12 93.75x
Martham 10 606.06x
Heigham 9 24.79x
Horningtoft 9 2812.50x
South Lynn 9 117.96x
Stratton St Mary 9 957.45x
Bracon Ash 8 1904.76x
Hainford 8 842.11x
Bowling 7 16.21x
Pulham St Mary Virgin 7 564.52x
Bennington By Boston 6 722.89x
East Bilney 6 2000.00x
Great Ryburgh 6 576.92x
Limpenhoe 6 2000.00x
Norwich St John Sepulchre 6 136.67x
Swanton Morley 6 576.92x
Walthamstow 6 19.19x
Alburgh 5 537.63x
Aldeby 5 515.46x
Brisley 5 961.54x
Cantley 5 1219.51x
Leeds 5 2.03x
Ludham 5 416.67x
March 5 53.59x
Skelton In Guisbrough 5 42.41x
St Andrewthe Less 5 15.71x
Stratton St Michael 5 1250.00x
Swanton Abbott 5 657.89x
Upton With Fishley 5 625.00x
Wells Next Sea 5 126.90x
Brandiston 4 1904.76x
Edenham 4 470.59x
Filby 4 454.55x
Lambeth 4 1.04x
Layston 4 248.45x
Miningsby In Boston 4 1111.11x
Wildmore 4 434.78x
Burlingham St Edmund 3 2727.27x
Docking 3 140.85x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 3 5.29x
Hemsby 3 306.12x
Hopton 3 227.27x
Lingwood 3 500.00x
Maryhill 3 10.77x
Oldham 3 1.78x
Tuttington 3 1000.00x
Winstanley 3 365.85x
Brancaster 2 172.41x
Camberwell 2 0.71x
Gaywood 2 165.29x
Horsham St Faith 2 176.99x
Kenton 2 526.32x
Merrington 2 79.37x
Norwich St Giles 2 92.17x
Norwich St James 2 37.66x
Norwich St Mary At Coslany 2 103.09x
Norwich St Saviour 2 84.39x
Shoreditch London 2 1.05x
St Marylebone London 2 0.85x
Sutton 2 12.89x
Swanton Novers 2 465.12x
Beccles 1 11.60x
Castle Rising 1 188.68x
Cawston 1 60.61x
Coningsby 1 49.51x
Eaton St Andrew 1 53.19x
Hackney London 1 0.41x
Norwich St John Timberhill 1 54.95x
Norwich St Martin At Oak 1 24.33x
Repps Cum Bastwick 1 250.00x
Saham Toney 1 54.64x
St Pancras London 1 0.28x
Standish With Langtree 1 15.55x
Swindon 1 3.31x
Wisbech St Peter 1 7.16x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 17
Sarah 17
Elizabeth 15
Alice 11
Ann 10
Eliza 10
Martha 9
Harriett 8
Annie 7
Emma 6
Hannah 6
Amelia 5
Edith 5
Emily 5
Rebecca 5
Charlotte 4
Susan 4
Anna 3
Harriet 3
Jane 3
Lydia 3
Maria 3
Ada 2
Ellen 2
Florence 2
Louisa 2
Rose 2
Arletta 1
Betsy 1
Caroline 1
Catharine 1
Catherine 1
Elizeth. 1
Florance 1
Florince 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Hariett 1
Helena 1
Hester 1
Jemima 1
Kate 1
Laura 1
Laurie 1
Leah 1
Lucy 1
Margaret 1
Margarett 1
Marion 1
Victoria 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Futter surname: questions and answers

How common was the Futter surname in 1881?

In 1881, 456 people were recorded with the Futter surname. That placed it at #7,255 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Futter surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 692 in 2016. That gives Futter a modern rank of #7,773.

What does the Futter surname mean?

A variant of the surname Futter, originally derived from the Middle English word "fodder", referring to one who worked with feed or fodder.

What does the Futter map show?

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