NameCensus.

UK surname

Petters

Germanic surname derived from a pet form of the personal name Peter.

In the 1881 census there were 148 people recorded with the Petters surname, ranking it #15,611 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 98, ranked #31,470, down from #15,611 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stithians, Dover St James, Dover St Mary and Portland. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Holland, Tendring and Forest Heath.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Petters is 188 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 33.8%.

1881 census count

148

Ranked #15,611

Modern count

98

2016, ranked #31,470

Peak year

1851

188 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2006

Key insights

  • Petters had 148 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,611 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 98 in 2016, ranked #31,470.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 188 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Petters surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Petters surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Petters 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 188 #10,939
1861 historical 123 #17,914
1881 historical 148 #15,611
1891 historical 155 #17,920
1901 historical 113 #21,296
1911 historical 131 #19,404
1997 modern 121 #24,019
1998 modern 117 #25,190
1999 modern 120 #24,960
2000 modern 116 #25,452
2001 modern 107 #26,328
2002 modern 109 #26,552
2003 modern 114 #25,664
2004 modern 107 #26,899
2005 modern 110 #26,430
2006 modern 110 #26,717
2007 modern 108 #27,391
2008 modern 103 #28,519
2009 modern 100 #29,597
2010 modern 114 #28,017
2011 modern 114 #27,784
2012 modern 107 #29,017
2013 modern 112 #28,675
2014 modern 115 #28,439
2015 modern 105 #30,092
2016 modern 98 #31,470

Geography

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Where Petters' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stithians, Dover St James, Dover St Mary, Portland, Camborne and Ramsgate. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Holland, Tendring, Forest Heath, Conwy and High Peak. 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 Stithians Cornwall
2 Dover St James, Dover St Mary Kent
3 Portland Dorset
4 Camborne Cornwall
5 Ramsgate Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Holland 008 South Holland
2 Tendring 004 Tendring
3 Forest Heath 006 Forest Heath
4 Conwy 006 Conwy
5 High Peak 006 High Peak

Forenames

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First names often paired with Petters

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Petters

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Petters surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Petters household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Petters is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Petters is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Petters falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Petters is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Petters, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Petters

The surname Petters is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Middle English personal name "Peter," which in turn comes from the Greek name "Petros," meaning "rock" or "stone." This name was popularized by one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ, who was known as St. Peter.

Petters is thought to have initially been an occupational surname, referring to someone who worked as a stone mason or a quarryman. Over time, it evolved into a hereditary family name that was passed down from generation to generation.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Petters can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the 13th century, where a "Richard Petters" is listed as a landholder. The Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from the same period also mention a "John Petters" of Wisbech.

The surname Petters has been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Petters Green in Essex and Petters Farm in Hampshire. These locations may have been named after individuals bearing the Petters surname or could have influenced the development of the name itself.

Among the notable historical figures with the surname Petters are:

1. John Petters (c. 1545 - 1615), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Colchester during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. 2. William Petters (1605 - 1680), a prominent Puritan clergyman and author who served as a rector in Northamptonshire. 3. Elizabeth Petters (1670 - 1734), an English actress and playwright who performed at the Theatre Royal in London. 4. Richard Petters (1745 - 1819), an English architect and surveyor best known for his work on several county courthouses and churches in the south of England. 5. James Petters (1819 - 1890), a British explorer and naturalist who accompanied several expeditions to Africa and published accounts of his travels.

While the surname Petters has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and has undergone various spelling variations, such as Pitters, Petters, and Pitts.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Petters families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Petters 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. Dorset leads with 24 Petters' recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.33x.

County Total Index
Dorset 24 25.33x
Surrey 20 2.84x
Lancashire 13 0.76x
Glamorgan 11 4.38x
Kent 10 2.03x
Cornwall 8 4.90x
Middlesex 7 0.48x
Pembrokeshire 6 13.08x
Sussex 6 2.47x
Anglesey 5 19.55x
Merionethshire 5 18.93x
Essex 4 1.40x
Yorkshire 4 0.28x
Aberdeenshire 3 2.24x
Devon 3 1.00x
Northumberland 3 1.40x
Dumfriesshire 2 6.27x
Flintshire 2 5.15x
Perthshire 2 3.09x
Angus 1 0.75x
Ayrshire 1 0.93x
Berkshire 1 0.92x
Durham 1 0.23x
Fife 1 1.17x
Hampshire 1 0.34x
Hertfordshire 1 1.01x
Huntingdonshire 1 3.49x
Stirlingshire 1 1.88x
Suffolk 1 0.57x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portland in Dorset leads with 24 Petters' recorded in 1881 and an index of 471.51x.

Place Total Index
Portland 24 471.51x
Thames Ditton 13 890.41x
Swansea Town 10 48.52x
Camborne 7 104.01x
Liverpool 7 6.73x
Kilgerran 6 1090.91x
Everton 5 9.16x
Amlwch 4 165.98x
Hove 4 37.45x
Llanfihangel Y Pennant 4 1000.00x
Ramsgate 4 49.75x
Skelton In Guisbrough 4 103.36x
Walmer 4 186.92x
West Ham 4 6.36x
Aberdeen Old Machar 2 7.17x
Barnstaple 2 42.37x
Cramlington 2 70.42x
Croydon 2 5.12x
Dunbarney 2 540.54x
Kirkmichael 2 476.19x
Paddington London 2 3.77x
Woodmansterne 2 1333.33x
Bethnal Green London 1 1.59x
Bettws 1 208.33x
Charlwood 1 149.25x
Compton 1 714.29x
Cuby 1 1428.57x
Dalton In Furness 1 15.13x
Devonport 1 28.99x
Dover St James 1 46.30x
Drymen 1 140.85x
Forgan 1 60.98x
Holy Trinity Less 1 322.58x
Liff Benvie 1 4.93x
Limehouse London 1 6.31x
Lodsworth 1 294.12x
Maybole 1 30.40x
Mile End New Town 1 50.76x
Mold Argoed 1 181.82x
Mold Leeswood 1 113.64x
Monkwearmouth Shore 1 11.93x
Newington 1 1.88x
Pennal 1 303.03x
Peterculter 1 106.38x
St Albans St Stephen 1 114.94x
St Michael Winchester 1 166.67x
St Neots 1 64.10x
St Pancras London 1 0.86x
Stoke 1 30.12x
Sudbury St Gregory 1 70.92x
Tonbridge 1 5.63x
Trewalchmai 1 263.16x
Tynemouth 1 8.70x
Winkfield 1 55.56x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Jane 5
Elizabeth 4
Emily 4
Agnes 2
Ann 2
Annie 2
Elenor 2
Eliza 2
Elizth. 2
Ellen 2
Hannah 2
Margaret 2
Sophie 2
Susan 2
Susanna 2
Alexandria 1
Alice 1
Amy 1
C.E.H. 1
Constance 1
E.G. 1
Emma 1
Esther 1
Frances 1
Gwen 1
Hanah 1
Isabelia 1
Lizzie 1
Maria 1
Maud 1
May 1
Phobe 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 11
William 10
George 5
James 5
Richard 5
Samuel 3
Benjamin 2
David 2
Henry 2
Joseph 2
Nicholas 2
Robert 2
Thomas 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Benj. 1
Denyorthane 1
Edward 1
Edwart 1
H.F.H. 1
Harry 1
Hugh 1
Lewis 1
Michael 1
Richd. 1
Thos 1
Thos.Hughes 1
W.H. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Petters surname: questions and answers

How common was the Petters surname in 1881?

In 1881, 148 people were recorded with the Petters surname. That placed it at #15,611 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Petters surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 98 in 2016. That gives Petters a modern rank of #31,470.

What does the Petters surname mean?

Germanic surname derived from a pet form of the personal name Peter.

What does the Petters map show?

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