UK surname
An occupational surname for a mower or reaper, derived from the Old English "mætere" meaning "to mow" or "to reap."
In the 1881 census there were 13 people recorded with the Matter surname, ranking it #31,761 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 74, ranked #33,441, down from #31,761 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Stow or Longstow, Great and Little Catworth and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Matter is 172 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 469.2%.
1881 census count
13
Ranked #31,761
Modern count
74
2016, ranked #33,441
Peak year
1861
172 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Matter surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Matter surname density by area, 1891 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 | 36 | #26,838 |
| 1861 | historical | 172 | #13,619 |
| 1881 | historical | 13 | #31,761 |
| 1891 | historical | 118 | #21,540 |
| 1901 | historical | 32 | #30,501 |
| 1911 | historical | 43 | #28,581 |
| 1997 | modern | 42 | #33,459 |
| 1998 | modern | 48 | #33,111 |
| 1999 | modern | 47 | #33,320 |
| 2000 | modern | 49 | #33,187 |
| 2001 | modern | 47 | #33,219 |
| 2002 | modern | 50 | #33,282 |
| 2003 | modern | 50 | #33,362 |
| 2004 | modern | 52 | #33,418 |
| 2005 | modern | 50 | #33,784 |
| 2006 | modern | 45 | #34,491 |
| 2007 | modern | 50 | #34,347 |
| 2008 | modern | 48 | #34,629 |
| 2009 | modern | 52 | #34,544 |
| 2010 | modern | 55 | #34,536 |
| 2011 | modern | 57 | #34,393 |
| 2012 | modern | 68 | #33,763 |
| 2013 | modern | 73 | #33,557 |
| 2014 | modern | 71 | #33,717 |
| 2015 | modern | 74 | #33,487 |
| 2016 | modern | 74 | #33,441 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Stow or Longstow, Great and Little Catworth, London parishes, St John Hackney and Dalton-in-Furness. 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 | Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff | Gloucestershire |
| 2 | Stow or Longstow, Great and Little Catworth | Huntingdonshire |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | St John Hackney | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Dalton-in-Furness | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Matter 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 Matter, 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 Matter surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Matter 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, Matter 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 Matter is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Matter, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Matter originates from the Germanic region, specifically the areas of Germany and Switzerland, where it first emerged in the 12th century. The name is derived from the Old High German word "matar," which translates to "matter" or "substance," potentially indicating an occupation or trade involving materials or substances.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Matter surname can be found in the Codex Manesse, a renowned medieval German manuscript dating back to around 1300. This codex contained a collection of courtly love poems and illustrations, including references to individuals bearing the Matter name.
The Matter surname also appears in various historical documents and records across different regions of Germany and Switzerland. For instance, records from the city of Zürich mention a Rudolph Matter in 1357, while the Württembergisches Urkundenbuch (a collection of documents from Württemberg) references a Hans Matter in 1456.
Interestingly, the Matter surname has also been associated with certain place names, such as Mattern, a town in the Rhineland-Palatinate region of Germany. This suggests a possible connection between the surname and geographic locations, potentially indicating the origin or residence of early bearers of the name.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the Matter surname. One such person was Johann Matter (1470-1530), a Swiss theologian and reformer who played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation in Zurich. Another prominent figure was Joachim Matter (1619-1677), a German composer and organist who served as the court Kapellmeister in Dresden.
Other notable individuals with the Matter surname include Friedrich Matter (1752-1832), a German jurist and politician who served as the mayor of Frankfurt am Main, and Johann Jakob Matter (1791-1866), a Swiss historian and philosopher who made significant contributions to the study of ancient philosophies and religions.
Additionally, the Matter surname has been associated with various branches and variations over time, such as Matern, Mattern, and Mater, reflecting regional linguistic differences and adaptations within the Germanic regions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Matter 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. Lancashire leads with 11 Matters recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.31x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 11 | 7.31x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 2.44x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.79x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wigan in Lancashire leads with 7 Matters recorded in 1881 and an index of 333.33x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Wigan | 7 | 333.33x |
| Liverpool | 3 | 32.82x |
| Barony | 1 | 9.63x |
| Rainford | 1 | 625.00x |
| St George Bloomsbury | 1 | 136.99x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Matter surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Matter 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 Matter households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Bakers Appr | 1 |
| Blacksmith | 1 |
| Bolt Maker Appr | 1 |
| Cotton Weaver | 1 |
| Iron Works Appr | 1 |
| Mechanic | 1 |
| Plumber Appr | 1 |
| Scholar | 1 |
| Serv Dom | 1 |
| Student In St Thomas Hospital (Med) | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 13 people were recorded with the Matter surname. That placed it at #31,761 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 74 in 2016. That gives Matter a modern rank of #33,441.
An occupational surname for a mower or reaper, derived from the Old English "mætere" meaning "to mow" or "to reap."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Matter 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.