NameCensus.

UK surname

Holter

One who lives near or works with elder trees, derived from the Old English words "holt" and "er."

In the 1881 census there were 99 people recorded with the Holter surname, ranking it #19,877 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 162, ranked #22,512, down from #19,877 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Newhaven, Pevensey and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Eastbourne, Wealden and Teignbridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Holter is 195 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 63.6%.

1881 census count

99

Ranked #19,877

Modern count

162

2016, ranked #22,512

Peak year

1998

195 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Holter had 99 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,877 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 162 in 2016, ranked #22,512.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 147 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities.

Holter surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Holter surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Holter 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 44 #25,328
1861 historical 91 #22,206
1881 historical 99 #19,877
1891 historical 147 #18,592
1901 historical 130 #19,649
1911 historical 147 #18,104
1997 modern 186 #18,448
1998 modern 195 #18,397
1999 modern 194 #18,579
2000 modern 189 #18,860
2001 modern 182 #19,039
2002 modern 186 #19,150
2003 modern 177 #19,549
2004 modern 178 #19,603
2005 modern 167 #20,296
2006 modern 168 #20,368
2007 modern 163 #21,050
2008 modern 165 #21,056
2009 modern 173 #20,869
2010 modern 171 #21,481
2011 modern 169 #21,499
2012 modern 160 #22,260
2013 modern 164 #22,236
2014 modern 165 #22,356
2015 modern 168 #21,971
2016 modern 162 #22,512

Geography

Back to top

Where Holters are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Newhaven, Pevensey, London parishes and Dean, West. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Eastbourne, Wealden, Teignbridge and Rother. 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 Newhaven Sussex
2 Pevensey Sussex
3 London parishes London 3
4 Dean, West Sussex
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Eastbourne 002 Eastbourne
2 Wealden 021 Wealden
3 Teignbridge 003 Teignbridge
4 Eastbourne 013 Eastbourne
5 Rother 007 Rother

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Holter

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Holter

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

Baseline UK

Group

Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities

Nationally, the Holter surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Holter household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Single-person households are common in these neighbourhoods, and these residents are typically divorced rather than never married. A high proportion of residents were born outside the UK in the EU. There are many young adults, some with young children, but relatively few residents are of normal retirement age or over. Although levels of identification with ethnic minorities are in line with the Supergroup average, individuals identifying with Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is more common than average. High long-term disability rates are observed, and unpaid care is more common than in the rest of the Group. The predominant housing types are terraced houses and flats, which are typically part of the social rented sector. This Group is commonly found in coastal areas and (present-day or former) industrial towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

City Support Workers

Within London, Holter is most associated with areas classed as City Support Workers, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 throughout Inner London, these areas house relatively few workers in the most senior roles within organisations, and greater prevalence of administrative roles relative to the Supergroup mean. Residents are less likely to be of Chinese ethnicity and are more likely to have been born in Africa. Relative to the Supergroup average, residents are also more likely to live in social housing and live in overcrowded conditions.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Holter is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Holter falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Holter is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Holter

The surname Holter originated in Germany and can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Old German word "holt," meaning "wood" or "forest," suggesting that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near or worked in a wooded area.

One of the earliest known records of the Holter surname can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus, a collection of medieval documents from the regions of Saxony and Thuringia, dating back to the 11th century. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Holter," "Holther," and "Holtere," reflecting regional variations in pronunciation and spelling conventions of the time.

In the 13th century, there are references to a family with the surname Holter in the town of Goslar, located in the Harz Mountains region of Lower Saxony. This region was known for its rich mining industry, and it is possible that members of the Holter family were involved in forestry or woodworking activities related to mining operations.

One notable figure bearing the Holter surname was Johannes Holter (c. 1450-1520), a German theologian and philosopher who taught at the University of Leipzig. His works focused on logic and metaphysics, and he played a significant role in the intellectual discourse of his time.

Another individual of historical significance was Moritz Holter (1691-1766), a German architect and builder who was responsible for the construction of several churches and public buildings in the city of Kassel, including the Friedrichsplatz and the Oberneustadt Church.

In the 19th century, a prominent figure with the Holter surname was Gustav Holter (1822-1897), a Norwegian-born businessman and industrialist who made significant contributions to the development of the timber industry in Canada. He established several sawmills and played a crucial role in the economic growth of the Ottawa Valley region.

Another notable person was Harriet Holter (1870-1946), an American nurse and educator who pioneered the concept of home healthcare nursing. She founded the Visiting Nurse Service of New York and was instrumental in establishing nursing as a respected profession.

The Holter surname has also been associated with various places and geographical features. For instance, the village of Holterdorf in Germany is believed to have derived its name from the Holter family, indicating their presence and influence in the area.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Holter families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Holter 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. Sussex leads with 67 Holters recorded in 1881 and an index of 41.16x.

County Total Index
Sussex 67 41.16x
Middlesex 18 1.86x
Surrey 6 1.28x
Lancashire 4 0.35x
Gloucestershire 1 0.53x
Kent 1 0.30x
Suffolk 1 0.85x
Worcestershire 1 0.79x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Westham in Sussex leads with 29 Holters recorded in 1881 and an index of 8787.88x.

Place Total Index
Westham 29 8787.88x
Eastbourne 18 240.32x
Clerkenwell London 10 43.88x
Bishopstone 6 6666.67x
Streatham 6 83.80x
Teddington London 6 273.97x
Heighton South 5 16666.67x
Heap 4 65.79x
Selmeston 3 5000.00x
Willingdon 3 731.71x
Ringmer 2 434.78x
Clifton 1 10.45x
Fulham London 1 7.14x
Kensington London 1 1.86x
Northfield 1 41.84x
Palgrave 1 400.00x
Tarring Neville 1 5000.00x
Tonbridge 1 8.42x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 5
Alice 4
Elizabeth 4
Ellen 3
Amelia 2
Ann 2
Annie 2
Edith 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Lucy 2
Sarah 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Amy 1
Augusta 1
Bridget 1
Erece 1
Eunice 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
Hannah 1
Helena 1
Jane 1
Kathleen 1
Keturah 1
Mable 1
Maria 1
Mauci 1
May 1
Mildred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Charles 8
John 6
William 6
Alfred 5
George 3
Henry 2
James 2
Richard 2
Arthur 1
Edward 1
Frank 1
G. 1
Harry 1
Jessee 1
Joseph 1
Martin 1
Percy 1
Silas 1
Stephen 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Holter surname: questions and answers

How common was the Holter surname in 1881?

In 1881, 99 people were recorded with the Holter surname. That placed it at #19,877 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Holter surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 162 in 2016. That gives Holter a modern rank of #22,512.

What does the Holter surname mean?

One who lives near or works with elder trees, derived from the Old English words "holt" and "er."

What does the Holter map show?

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