UK surname
A German/Jewish surname derived from a place name.
In the 1881 census there were 131 people recorded with the Killer surname, ranking it #16,824 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 76, ranked #33,304, down from #16,824 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wilmslow, St Werburgh and Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Killer is 268 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 42.0%.
1881 census count
131
Ranked #16,824
Modern count
76
2016, ranked #33,304
Peak year
1861
268 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Killer surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Killer 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 | 157 | #12,504 |
| 1861 | historical | 268 | #9,274 |
| 1881 | historical | 131 | #16,824 |
| 1891 | historical | 186 | #15,740 |
| 1901 | historical | 157 | #17,577 |
| 1911 | historical | 158 | #17,277 |
| 1997 | modern | 73 | #30,306 |
| 1998 | modern | 77 | #30,289 |
| 1999 | modern | 76 | #30,546 |
| 2000 | modern | 83 | #29,809 |
| 2001 | modern | 74 | #30,600 |
| 2002 | modern | 69 | #31,527 |
| 2003 | modern | 64 | #32,056 |
| 2004 | modern | 63 | #32,380 |
| 2005 | modern | 60 | #32,917 |
| 2006 | modern | 66 | #32,629 |
| 2007 | modern | 70 | #32,580 |
| 2008 | modern | 73 | #32,555 |
| 2009 | modern | 67 | #33,450 |
| 2010 | modern | 73 | #33,249 |
| 2011 | modern | 81 | #32,558 |
| 2012 | modern | 78 | #33,044 |
| 2013 | modern | 77 | #33,275 |
| 2014 | modern | 78 | #33,270 |
| 2015 | modern | 82 | #32,911 |
| 2016 | modern | 76 | #33,304 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wilmslow, St Werburgh, Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory, Mottram-in-Longdendale and Wirksworth. 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 | Wilmslow | Cheshire |
| 2 | St Werburgh | Derbyshire |
| 3 | Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory | Northamptonshire |
| 4 | Mottram-in-Longdendale | Lancashire |
| 5 | Wirksworth | Derbyshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Killer 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 Killer, 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 Killer surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Killer 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, Killer 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 Killer is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Killer, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Killer is believed to have originated in Germany during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the German word "kiler," which means "cellar keeper" or "wine cellar master." This occupation-based surname was likely given to individuals who were responsible for maintaining and overseeing the storage of wine and other beverages in cellars.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Killer surname can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, a collection of historical documents from the Kingdom of Saxony. In this record, dated around the 13th century, a person named Johannes Killer is mentioned as a resident of the town of Meissen.
In the 14th century, the Killer surname appeared in various municipal records and tax rolls in several German cities, including Cologne and Nuremberg. This suggests that the name had spread across different regions of Germany during that time.
One notable individual with the Killer surname was Johann Killer (c. 1500-1570), a German merchant and financier from Augsburg. He played a significant role in the financial affairs of the Holy Roman Empire and was a prominent figure in the city's mercantile community.
Another prominent Killer was Andreas Killer (1590-1661), a German Lutheran theologian and author. He served as a professor at the University of Wittenberg and wrote several influential works on theology and philosophy.
In the 17th century, the Killer surname found its way to England, likely through German immigrants or merchants. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in England was Thomas Killer (1632-1688), a merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Vintners in London.
During the 18th century, the Killer surname gained recognition in the field of art and music. Johann Baptist Killer (1735-1804) was a renowned German painter and engraver known for his religious and historical works. Meanwhile, Ferdinand Killer (1751-1812) was a German composer and violinist who served as the Kapellmeister (music director) at the court of the Elector of Mainz.
In the 19th century, the Killer surname continued to be associated with notable figures, such as Karl Killer (1807-1873), a German theologian and philosopher who made significant contributions to the field of ethics.
Throughout its history, the Killer surname has been found across various regions of Germany, as well as in other parts of Europe and beyond, reflecting the migration patterns and influence of German culture and individuals over the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Killer 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. Derbyshire leads with 65 Killers recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.49x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Derbyshire | 65 | 32.49x |
| Warwickshire | 15 | 4.65x |
| Cheshire | 14 | 4.96x |
| Middlesex | 12 | 0.94x |
| Lancashire | 10 | 0.66x |
| Carmarthenshire | 8 | 14.85x |
| Yorkshire | 5 | 0.39x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.23x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.16x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Middletonby Wirksworth in Derbyshire leads with 30 Killers recorded in 1881 and an index of 15000.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middletonby Wirksworth | 30 | 15000.00x |
| Wirksworth | 20 | 1098.90x |
| Middleton By Wirksworth | 9 | 4285.71x |
| Laugharne | 8 | 1126.76x |
| Mottram | 7 | 546.88x |
| Birmingham | 6 | 5.59x |
| Coventry St Michael | 6 | 57.97x |
| Macclesfield | 5 | 39.87x |
| Pendlebury | 4 | 125.00x |
| Worsley | 4 | 42.78x |
| Ecclesall Bierlow | 3 | 11.65x |
| Ilkeston | 3 | 53.48x |
| Islington London | 3 | 2.42x |
| St Marylebone London | 3 | 4.40x |
| Attercliffe Cum Darnall | 2 | 16.95x |
| Cromford | 2 | 425.53x |
| Leamington | 2 | 93.46x |
| Pownall Fee | 2 | 158.73x |
| St Giles In Fields London | 2 | 31.90x |
| Bonsall | 1 | 169.49x |
| Chelsea London | 1 | 2.60x |
| Hornsey | 1 | 6.19x |
| Leamington Priors | 1 | 12.61x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 1.09x |
| Newington | 1 | 2.12x |
| Rochester St Margaret | 1 | 21.74x |
| St Bartholomew Less | 1 | 151.52x |
| Stretford | 1 | 11.99x |
| Westminster St James | 1 | 7.61x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Killer surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 8 |
| Sarah | 8 |
| Elizabeth | 4 |
| Hannah | 4 |
| Martha | 4 |
| Ellen | 3 |
| Esther | 3 |
| Anne | 2 |
| Annie | 2 |
| Catherine | 2 |
| Dorothy | 2 |
| Edith | 2 |
| Harriet | 2 |
| Margret | 2 |
| Ruth | 2 |
| Ada | 1 |
| Alice | 1 |
| Ann | 1 |
| Anna | 1 |
| Bertha | 1 |
| Charlotte | 1 |
| Clara | 1 |
| Eliz. | 1 |
| Emma | 1 |
| Florence | 1 |
| Gertrude | 1 |
| Isabella | 1 |
| Julia | 1 |
| Kate | 1 |
| Louisa | 1 |
| Rebecca | 1 |
| Rebecka | 1 |
| Sydney | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Killer surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Killer households.
FAQ
In 1881, 131 people were recorded with the Killer surname. That placed it at #16,824 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 76 in 2016. That gives Killer a modern rank of #33,304.
A German/Jewish surname derived from a place name.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Killer 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.