UK surname
A surname derived from the Old French meaning a furrier or dealer in skins.
In the 1881 census there were 68 people recorded with the Pelter surname, ranking it #23,950 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 84, ranked #32,726, down from #23,950 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Hayton, Penrith and Dalton-in-Furness. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pelter is 103 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 23.5%.
1881 census count
68
Ranked #23,950
Modern count
84
2016, ranked #32,726
Peak year
1911
103 bearers
Map years
1
1911 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Pelter surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Pelter surname density by area, 1911 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 | 30 | #27,891 |
| 1861 | historical | 29 | #30,287 |
| 1881 | historical | 68 | #23,950 |
| 1891 | historical | 83 | #26,376 |
| 1901 | historical | 79 | #25,363 |
| 1911 | historical | 103 | #22,328 |
| 1997 | modern | 70 | #30,618 |
| 1998 | modern | 79 | #30,080 |
| 1999 | modern | 75 | #30,661 |
| 2000 | modern | 71 | #31,082 |
| 2001 | modern | 75 | #30,481 |
| 2002 | modern | 77 | #30,709 |
| 2003 | modern | 76 | #30,883 |
| 2004 | modern | 74 | #31,306 |
| 2005 | modern | 77 | #31,156 |
| 2006 | modern | 83 | #30,808 |
| 2007 | modern | 87 | #30,666 |
| 2008 | modern | 83 | #31,483 |
| 2009 | modern | 77 | #32,553 |
| 2010 | modern | 76 | #33,009 |
| 2011 | modern | 77 | #32,909 |
| 2012 | modern | 77 | #33,124 |
| 2013 | modern | 79 | #33,142 |
| 2014 | modern | 81 | #33,061 |
| 2015 | modern | 85 | #32,693 |
| 2016 | modern | 84 | #32,726 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Hayton, Penrith, Dalton-in-Furness, Whittington and London parishes. 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 | Hayton | Cumberland |
| 2 | Penrith | Cumberland |
| 3 | Dalton-in-Furness | Lancashire |
| 4 | Whittington | Lancashire |
| 5 | London parishes | London 2 |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Pelter 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 Pelter, 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 Pelter surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Pelter 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, Pelter 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 Pelter is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Pelter, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Pelter is of English origin, first appearing in the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "pelter," which means "a trader" or "a peddler." The name likely originated in the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire, where many Pelters were documented as traders and merchants during the Middle Ages.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Pelter can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1195, where a William Pelter is mentioned as a taxpayer. The surname also appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273, listing a John le Peltere.
The Domesday Book, a great survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname Pelter. However, it does mention several places with similar names, such as Peltenden in Kent and Pelterton in Northamptonshire, which may have contributed to the formation of the surname.
Notable individuals with the surname Pelter throughout history include:
1. Robert Pelter (c. 1450 - 1520), a wealthy merchant and landowner from York, known for his charitable donations to local churches and monasteries.
2. Elizabeth Pelter (c. 1560 - 1635), a prominent Puritan writer and religious leader from Suffolk, who authored several works on Christian devotion.
3. Sir Thomas Pelter (1592 - 1673), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Shropshire during the reign of Charles I.
4. John Pelter (1725 - 1804), a renowned clockmaker from London, whose intricate timepieces were highly sought after by the aristocracy.
5. William Pelter (1810 - 1892), a pioneer settler and farmer in the American Midwest, who established one of the first successful wheat farms in Illinois.
As the name Pelter spread throughout England and later to other parts of the world, various spellings emerged, such as Peltier, Peltre, and Peltzer. Additionally, some Pelters may have adopted the name from places like Pelton in County Durham or Pelham in Hertfordshire, further contributing to the name's diversity.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pelter 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. Cumberland leads with 34 Pelters recorded in 1881 and an index of 59.54x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Cumberland | 34 | 59.54x |
| Lancashire | 16 | 2.03x |
| Durham | 11 | 5.58x |
| Sussex | 4 | 3.58x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 1.01x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.31x |
| Westmorland | 1 | 6.86x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Penrith in Cumberland leads with 24 Pelters recorded in 1881 and an index of 1137.44x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Penrith | 24 | 1137.44x |
| Gamblesby | 6 | 10000.00x |
| Lamesley | 5 | 471.70x |
| Barrow In Furness | 4 | 37.38x |
| Crook Billy Row | 4 | 158.10x |
| Harting | 4 | 1379.31x |
| Layton With Warbreck | 4 | 138.41x |
| Whittington | 4 | 5000.00x |
| Walton | 3 | 3333.33x |
| Bishopwearmouth | 2 | 11.81x |
| Arkholme With Cawood | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Askham | 1 | 833.33x |
| Colton | 1 | 243.90x |
| Great Salkeld | 1 | 909.09x |
| Halton | 1 | 588.24x |
| Kirkby Ireleth | 1 | 256.41x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 1.73x |
| Tynemouth | 1 | 18.94x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Pelter 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 Pelter 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 Pelter households.
FAQ
In 1881, 68 people were recorded with the Pelter surname. That placed it at #23,950 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 84 in 2016. That gives Pelter a modern rank of #32,726.
A surname derived from the Old French meaning a furrier or dealer in skins.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Pelter 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.