NameCensus.

UK surname

Marter

A surname derived from the old French word "martre", meaning a marten, a type of weasel.

In the 1881 census there were 58 people recorded with the Marter surname, ranking it #25,428 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 105, ranked #30,114, down from #25,428 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, St Leonard Shoreditch and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Runnymede, South Somerset and Colchester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Marter is 497 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 81.0%.

1881 census count

58

Ranked #25,428

Modern count

105

2016, ranked #30,114

Peak year

1861

497 bearers

Map years

7

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Marter had 58 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #25,428 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 105 in 2016, ranked #30,114.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 497 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Marter surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Marter surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Marter 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 206 #10,183
1861 historical 497 #5,262
1881 historical 58 #25,428
1891 historical 301 #11,092
1901 historical 143 #18,570
1911 historical 142 #18,487
1997 modern 102 #26,638
1998 modern 110 #26,129
1999 modern 111 #26,182
2000 modern 110 #26,248
2001 modern 104 #26,765
2002 modern 107 #26,849
2003 modern 102 #27,383
2004 modern 103 #27,503
2005 modern 101 #27,854
2006 modern 91 #29,725
2007 modern 97 #29,156
2008 modern 92 #30,286
2009 modern 98 #29,906
2010 modern 102 #29,930
2011 modern 98 #30,384
2012 modern 95 #31,107
2013 modern 104 #30,076
2014 modern 104 #30,365
2015 modern 105 #30,092
2016 modern 105 #30,114

Geography

Back to top

Where Marters are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Runnymede, South Somerset, Colchester, Harlow and North Somerset. 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 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Wandsworth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Runnymede 003 Runnymede
2 South Somerset 015 South Somerset
3 Colchester 012 Colchester
4 Harlow 005 Harlow
5 North Somerset 023 North Somerset

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Marter

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Marter

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Marter surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Marter household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Marter is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Marter is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Marter falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Marter

The surname Marter is believed to have originated in England, with its roots traced back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old French word "marter," which means a type of weasel or marten, a small carnivorous mammal prized for its fur.

The name Marter likely referred to an occupation or trade involving the hunting, trapping, or dealing of martens or their fur. Some of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in medieval tax rolls and legal documents from various English counties.

One notable early reference to the name Marter appears in the 1379 Poll Tax Returns for Yorkshire, where a William Marter is listed. The Hearth Tax Rolls for Wiltshire in 1664 also mention a John Marter.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, variations of the name emerged, such as Martre, Martyr, and Martyr. These spellings were likely influenced by local dialects and regional variations in pronunciation.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Marter was John Marter, who was born in Worcestershire, England, around 1550. He is mentioned in parish records as a landowner and farmer.

Another notable figure was Thomas Marter, a merchant and trader from London, who lived from 1620 to 1685. He is recorded as having established trade routes with the American colonies, importing goods such as tobacco and furs.

In the 18th century, the Marter surname appeared in several areas of England, including Gloucestershire, where a family of Marters resided in the village of Brockhampton. William Marter, born in 1710, was a prominent landowner and magistrate in the region.

Moving into the 19th century, Richard Marter, born in 1812 in Warwickshire, was a renowned architect and builder. He was responsible for the design and construction of several churches and public buildings in the Midlands area.

Another significant figure was Elizabeth Marter, born in 1835 in Oxfordshire. She was a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights, establishing one of the first girls' schools in the region and campaigning for equal educational opportunities.

While the surname Marter is not among the most common in England, it has a rich history spanning several centuries and is deeply rooted in the country's past, with connections to various occupations, trades, and notable individuals throughout its evolution.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Marter families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Marter 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. Surrey leads with 26 Marters recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.43x.

County Total Index
Surrey 26 9.43x
Middlesex 25 4.42x
Oxfordshire 4 11.45x
Norfolk 2 2.30x
Hampshire 1 0.86x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cheam in Surrey leads with 9 Marters recorded in 1881 and an index of 3103.45x.

Place Total Index
Cheam 9 3103.45x
St George Bloomsbury 9 277.78x
Shoreditch London 6 24.47x
Leatherhead 4 579.71x
Lewknor 4 4000.00x
Croydon 3 19.61x
St Pancras London 3 6.59x
Wandsworth 3 55.15x
Westminster St James 3 51.64x
Chertsey 2 112.36x
Docking 2 740.74x
Hackney London 2 6.31x
Putney 2 77.52x
Camberwell 1 2.77x
Clerkenwell London 1 7.49x
Farnham 1 46.73x
Islington London 1 1.82x
Shanklin 1 285.71x
Wimbledon 1 32.36x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Sarah 5
Ann 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Hannah 2
Anne 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Eleanor 1
Elizabeth 1
Fannny 1
Florence 1
Harriet 1
John 1
Kate 1
Lydia 1
Maria 1
Rosa 1
Susan 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

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 Marter households.

FAQ

Marter surname: questions and answers

How common was the Marter surname in 1881?

In 1881, 58 people were recorded with the Marter surname. That placed it at #25,428 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Marter surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 105 in 2016. That gives Marter a modern rank of #30,114.

What does the Marter surname mean?

A surname derived from the old French word "martre", meaning a marten, a type of weasel.

What does the Marter map show?

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