NameCensus.

UK surname

Grater

An occupational surname derived from someone who made graters or grated materials like cheese or nutmeg.

In the 1881 census there were 82 people recorded with the Grater surname, ranking it #21,957 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 90, ranked #32,202, down from #21,957 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Southampton St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Southwark, Wychavon and North Queensferry and Inverkeithing West.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Grater is 140 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 9.8%.

1881 census count

82

Ranked #21,957

Modern count

90

2016, ranked #32,202

Peak year

1911

140 bearers

Map years

3

1891 to 1911

Key insights

  • Grater had 82 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #21,957 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 90 in 2016, ranked #32,202.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 140 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Grater surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Grater surname density by area, 1911 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Grater 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 50 #24,274
1861 historical 92 #22,112
1881 historical 82 #21,957
1891 historical 101 #23,870
1901 historical 103 #22,444
1911 historical 140 #18,657
1997 modern 92 #28,079
1998 modern 93 #28,563
1999 modern 100 #27,757
2000 modern 95 #28,441
2001 modern 87 #29,161
2002 modern 91 #29,181
2003 modern 92 #28,974
2004 modern 88 #29,758
2005 modern 84 #30,359
2006 modern 88 #30,160
2007 modern 87 #30,666
2008 modern 89 #30,713
2009 modern 85 #31,717
2010 modern 88 #31,875
2011 modern 86 #32,006
2012 modern 85 #32,395
2013 modern 88 #32,349
2014 modern 88 #32,495
2015 modern 89 #32,325
2016 modern 90 #32,202

Geography

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Where Graters are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Southampton St Mary and Tiverton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Southwark, Wychavon, North Queensferry and Inverkeithing West, East Devon and West Dorset. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Southampton St Mary Hampshire
4 Tiverton Devon
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Southwark 009 Southwark
2 Wychavon 002 Wychavon
3 North Queensferry and Inverkeithing West Fife
4 East Devon 007 East Devon
5 West Dorset 005 West Dorset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Grater

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Grater

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Grater surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Grater 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Established Homeowners with Children

Within London, Grater is most associated with areas classed as Established Homeowners with Children, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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 predominantly British-born residents are typically married/in civil partnerships and own the properties in which they are raising their children. Parents are typically over 45, and many other residents are beyond normal retirement age. Detached and semi-detached houses predominate and multiple car ownership is common.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Grater 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

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

Meaning and origin of Grater

The surname GRATER is believed to have originated in Germany in the late medieval period. It is likely derived from the German word "graten," which means "to grate" or "to scrape." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to an occupation or trade involving grating or scraping, such as a cheese grater or a woodworker.

The earliest recorded instances of the name GRATER can be traced back to the 15th century in various German regions. One notable example is Hans Grater, a merchant from Nuremberg who was mentioned in a trade record from 1472. Another early reference is found in the Liber Confraternitatis, a register of a religious brotherhood in Strasbourg, which lists a certain Claus Grater as a member in 1498.

In the 16th century, the name GRATER appeared in several historical documents across Germany. For instance, a Johannes Grater was recorded as a resident of Heilbronn in 1543, while a Matthias Grater was listed as a citizen of Augsburg in 1567.

As the name spread beyond Germany, it underwent various spelling variations, such as Grather, Grather, and Grätter. One notable bearer of the name was Johann Grater, a German philologist and historian who lived from 1637 to 1723. He was a prolific author and published works on various subjects, including ancient manuscripts and inscriptions.

Another prominent figure was Johann Jakob Grater, a Swiss theologian and philosopher born in 1752. He was a professor at the University of Basel and authored several books on theology and philosophy.

In the 19th century, the name GRATER gained more prominence with individuals like Karl Grater, a German geographer and cartographer who lived from 1811 to 1876. He is known for his detailed maps of Central Europe and his contributions to the field of cartography.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name GRATER in the United States can be found in the 1790 census, where a Johann Grater was listed as residing in Pennsylvania, likely as an immigrant from Germany.

Throughout history, the surname GRATER has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, merchants, artisans, and professionals, reflecting the diverse origins and meanings associated with this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Grater families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Grater 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 40 Graters recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.74x.

County Total Index
Devon 40 23.74x
Surrey 13 3.30x
Hampshire 12 7.23x
Warwickshire 7 3.43x
Middlesex 5 0.62x
Somerset 3 2.30x
Kent 1 0.36x
Monmouthshire 1 1.71x
Suffolk 1 1.01x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tiverton in Devon leads with 23 Graters recorded in 1881 and an index of 793.10x.

Place Total Index
Tiverton 23 793.10x
Southwark St George Martyr 12 73.66x
Sparsholt 11 9166.67x
Birmingham 7 10.29x
Bere Ferrers 5 1785.71x
Hatherleigh 5 1190.48x
Highampton 5 6250.00x
Hackney London 4 8.81x
Bedminster 3 24.51x
Croydon 1 4.57x
Greenwich 1 7.76x
Meeth 1 1666.67x
Mildenhall 1 95.24x
Monkleigh 1 666.67x
St Lawrence Winchester 1 1428.57x
St Marylebone London 1 2.31x
St Woollos 1 15.31x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 5
Mary 5
Sarah 4
Susan 4
Ann 3
Annie 2
Emily 2
Ada 1
Alice 1
Caroline 1
Charlotte 1
Christian 1
Emma 1
Florence 1
Gertrude 1
Harriet 1
Jessie 1
Kate 1
Katie 1
Louisa 1
Lydia 1
Mabel 1
Reba.Jane 1
Selina 1
Virginia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 7
Henry 5
John 5
James 4
Benjamin 3
Thomas 3
Albert 1
Frederick 1
George 1
Herbert 1
Hugh 1
Jas.Somers 1
Montague 1
Richard 1
Richd. 1
Richd.Somers 1
Robert 1
Sml.Jos.Somers 1
Wm. 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 Grater households.

FAQ

Grater surname: questions and answers

How common was the Grater surname in 1881?

In 1881, 82 people were recorded with the Grater surname. That placed it at #21,957 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Grater surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 90 in 2016. That gives Grater a modern rank of #32,202.

What does the Grater surname mean?

An occupational surname derived from someone who made graters or grated materials like cheese or nutmeg.

What does the Grater map show?

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