NameCensus.

UK surname

Petter

A derivative of the given name Peter, meaning "rock" or "stone".

In the 1881 census there were 248 people recorded with the Petter surname, ranking it #11,140 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 192, ranked #20,118, down from #11,140 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton and Stedham, Iping, Trotton, Chithurst. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Hampshire, West Berkshire and Forest of Dean.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Petter is 459 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 22.6%.

1881 census count

248

Ranked #11,140

Modern count

192

2016, ranked #20,118

Peak year

1861

459 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Petter had 248 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,140 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 192 in 2016, ranked #20,118.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 459 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Petter surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Petter surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Petter 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 293 #7,783
1861 historical 459 #5,654
1881 historical 248 #11,140
1891 historical 368 #9,464
1901 historical 358 #10,269
1911 historical 387 #9,511
1997 modern 202 #17,514
1998 modern 202 #17,991
1999 modern 198 #18,343
2000 modern 200 #18,209
2001 modern 196 #18,146
2002 modern 195 #18,590
2003 modern 188 #18,810
2004 modern 189 #18,855
2005 modern 180 #19,395
2006 modern 183 #19,326
2007 modern 173 #20,243
2008 modern 182 #19,800
2009 modern 180 #20,341
2010 modern 187 #20,309
2011 modern 179 #20,732
2012 modern 185 #20,223
2013 modern 191 #20,124
2014 modern 193 #20,159
2015 modern 190 #20,272
2016 modern 192 #20,118

Geography

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Where Petters are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton, Stedham, Iping, Trotton, Chithurst and St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Hampshire, West Berkshire, Forest of Dean, Chichester and Flintshire. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton Devon
3 London parishes London 3
4 Stedham, Iping, Trotton, Chithurst Sussex
5 St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Hampshire 012 East Hampshire
2 West Berkshire 007 West Berkshire
3 Forest of Dean 003 Forest of Dean
4 Chichester 005 Chichester
5 Flintshire 005 Flintshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Petter

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Petter

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Petter surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Petter household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Petter is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Petter is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Petter 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 Petter 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 Petter, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Petter

The surname Petter is of German origin and can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the German word "Peter," which is a variant of the name "Petrus," the apostle's name in the New Testament. The name Petter likely originated as a nickname or diminutive form of Peter, possibly used to distinguish between individuals with the same given name.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Petter can be found in the German city of Nürnberg (Nuremberg) in the 14th century. In historical records from that time, there are mentions of individuals with the surname Petter, indicating its usage in that region during the medieval period.

The name Petter has also been linked to various place names, particularly in Germany and Austria. For instance, the village of Pettersberg in Bavaria is believed to have derived its name from the surname Petter, suggesting that individuals with this last name may have been among the early settlers or landowners in that area.

Notable individuals with the surname Petter throughout history include Johann Gottlieb Petter (1767-1854), a German philosopher and theologian, and August Petter (1818-1891), a German painter known for his landscapes and genre scenes. Another prominent figure was the Austrian physicist and mathematician, Wilhelm Petter (1835-1904), who made significant contributions to the field of thermodynamics.

In the literary world, the Austrian writer and poet, Hugo Petter (1875-1938), gained recognition for his works exploring themes of nature and rural life. Additionally, the German historian and archivist, Alfred Petter (1875-1945), is notable for his extensive research and publications on the history of the city of Nuremberg.

While the surname Petter may have evolved with slight spelling variations over time, such as Petter, Petters, or Pettersen, its origins can be firmly traced back to the German language and the medieval period, reflecting the rich cultural and linguistic heritage of Central Europe.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Petter families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Petter 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 72 Petters recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.58x.

County Total Index
Sussex 72 17.58x
Surrey 37 3.13x
Devon 23 4.55x
Hampshire 20 4.02x
Kent 19 2.29x
Middlesex 14 0.58x
Yorkshire 14 0.58x
Gloucestershire 13 2.73x
Somerset 13 3.33x
Essex 7 1.46x
Nottinghamshire 5 1.53x
Lancashire 3 0.10x
Dorset 2 1.25x
Pembrokeshire 2 2.59x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.44x
Bedfordshire 1 0.80x
Durham 1 0.14x
Herefordshire 1 1.00x
Suffolk 1 0.34x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Rogate in Sussex leads with 23 Petters recorded in 1881 and an index of 2804.88x.

Place Total Index
Rogate 23 2804.88x
Barnstaple 17 214.11x
Trotton 13 3823.53x
Deptford St Paul 12 18.77x
Yeovil 11 138.54x
Gilling 10 1388.89x
Lambeth 10 4.72x
Sheet 7 1296.30x
South Weald 7 170.32x
Stapleton 7 77.43x
Billingshurst 6 447.76x
Portsea 6 6.15x
Rotherhithe 6 19.99x
Westbury On Trym 6 37.17x
East Wittering 5 2631.58x
Midhurst 5 373.13x
Nottingham St Mary 5 5.90x
Wield 5 2500.00x
Bosham 4 384.62x
Bromley 4 31.67x
Fetcham 4 1025.64x
Guildford Holy Trinity 4 176.99x
Hammersmith London 4 6.69x
Warnham 4 449.44x
Battersea 3 3.36x
Penge 3 19.34x
South Bersted 3 86.21x
St George Hanover 3 9.46x
Tottenham 3 7.76x
West Derby 3 3.56x
Benenden 2 769.23x
Croydon 2 3.04x
Devonport 2 34.42x
East Grinstead 2 34.48x
Ilfracombe 2 38.46x
Kilgerran 2 215.05x
Longfleet 2 108.11x
Thames Ditton 2 81.30x
Thirsk 2 71.94x
Alton 1 26.67x
Ash Next Sandwich 1 54.64x
Bedford St Paul 1 11.59x
Bournmoor 1 88.50x
Cawood 1 108.70x
Chelsea London 1 1.37x
Eastbourne 1 5.31x
Ewhurst 1 135.14x
Hackney London 1 0.73x
Harting 1 94.34x
Hastings St Mary 1 9.81x
Hereford All Sts 1 21.93x
Hornsey 1 3.26x
Idsworth 1 303.03x
Ipswich St Mathew 1 12.06x
Midsomer Norton 1 27.17x
Oxted 1 69.93x
Pennycross 1 238.10x
Shalford 1 76.34x
Sidlesham 1 126.58x
Sompting 1 175.44x
Steyning 1 71.94x
Sutton Stoneferry 1 14.51x
Tormoham 1 4.68x
Turriff 1 27.55x
Westminster St 1 11.17x
Wilton 1 98.04x
Wisborough Green 1 72.46x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 13
Henry 10
James 9
George 8
William 8
Arthur 7
Charles 7
Thomas 7
Edward 5
Albert 4
Ernest 3
Hori 3
Samuel 3
Frank 2
Frederick 2
Lewis 2
Percy 2
Richard 2
Robert 2
Alfred 1
Benjeman 1
Claude 1
Clement 1
Colwin 1
Edwin 1
Esta 1
Francis 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.C. 1
Gervase 1
Gilbert 1
Guy 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
Hugh 1
Joseph 1
Leanard 1
Louis 1
Noah 1
Oswald 1
Philip 1
Stanley 1
Stephen 1
Sydney 1
Thos. 1
Walter 1
Wilfred 1

FAQ

Petter surname: questions and answers

How common was the Petter surname in 1881?

In 1881, 248 people were recorded with the Petter surname. That placed it at #11,140 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Petter surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 192 in 2016. That gives Petter a modern rank of #20,118.

What does the Petter surname mean?

A derivative of the given name Peter, meaning "rock" or "stone".

What does the Petter map show?

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