UK surname
A habitational surname derived from a Germanic place name meaning "noisy person".
In the 1881 census there were 41 people recorded with the Polter surname, ranking it #27,870 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 10, ranked #37,599, down from #27,870 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wigston, Magna, London parishes and Morley St Botolph, Morley St Peter. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Polter is 297 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 75.6%.
1881 census count
41
Ranked #27,870
Modern count
10
2016, ranked #37,599
Peak year
1891
297 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Polter surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Polter 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 | 108 | #16,308 |
| 1861 | historical | 21 | #31,242 |
| 1881 | historical | 41 | #27,870 |
| 1891 | historical | 297 | #11,192 |
| 1901 | historical | 76 | #25,734 |
| 1911 | historical | 157 | #17,348 |
| 1997 | modern | 4 | #38,094 |
| 1998 | modern | 4 | #38,082 |
| 1999 | modern | 7 | #37,513 |
| 2000 | modern | 11 | #36,879 |
| 2001 | modern | 9 | #36,980 |
| 2002 | modern | 9 | #37,051 |
| 2003 | modern | 11 | #36,842 |
| 2004 | modern | 11 | #36,969 |
| 2005 | modern | 11 | #37,065 |
| 2006 | modern | 12 | #37,014 |
| 2007 | modern | 12 | #37,095 |
| 2008 | modern | 7 | #37,735 |
| 2009 | modern | 8 | #37,689 |
| 2010 | modern | 6 | #38,024 |
| 2011 | modern | 5 | #38,168 |
| 2012 | modern | 5 | #38,167 |
| 2013 | modern | 8 | #37,767 |
| 2014 | modern | 9 | #37,679 |
| 2015 | modern | 10 | #37,563 |
| 2016 | modern | 10 | #37,599 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wigston, Magna, London parishes, Morley St Botolph, Morley St Peter and Millom, Muncaster. 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 | Wigston, Magna | Leicestershire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 3 | Morley St Botolph, Morley St Peter | Norfolk |
| 4 | Millom, Muncaster | Cumberland |
| 5 | London parishes | London 3 |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Polter 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 Polter, 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 Polter surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Polter 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, Polter 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 Polter is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Polter, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Polter is of German origin, dating back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Middle High German word "polter," which means "to make a loud noise" or "to clatter." This surname was likely given as a descriptive nickname to someone who was known for being noisy or boisterous.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Polter can be found in various German historical records from the 1500s. One notable mention is in the Kirchenbücher (church records) of Saxony, where a family by the name of Polter is documented in the town of Zwickau in the late 16th century.
In the 17th century, the Polter name appeared in the records of the city of Cologne, where a certain Hans Polter was listed as a merchant in the year 1628. This suggests that the name had spread from its original region in eastern Germany to other parts of the country.
During the 18th century, the Polter surname was also found in the records of the town of Memmingen in Bavaria, where a family by that name was prominent in the local brewing industry. One of the most renowned members of this family was Johann Polter (1712-1789), who established a successful brewery that continued to operate for several generations.
Another notable figure with the Polter surname was Friedrich Polter (1820-1892), a German theologian and philosopher from Saxony. He was a professor at the University of Leipzig and is known for his works on ethics and the philosophy of religion.
In the 19th century, the name Polter also appeared in the records of the town of Emmerich in the Rhineland region of Germany. One of the most famous individuals from this area was the writer and poet Wilhelm Polter (1864-1928), who gained recognition for his works depicting the rural life and traditions of the Rhineland.
Throughout its history, the surname Polter has been associated with various occupations, ranging from merchants and brewers to academics and writers. While the name may have originated as a descriptive nickname, it has since become a well-established surname with a rich heritage in German culture and history.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Polter 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. Middlesex leads with 13 Polters recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.25x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 13 | 3.25x |
| Gloucestershire | 9 | 11.47x |
| Essex | 5 | 6.33x |
| Suffolk | 5 | 10.26x |
| Derbyshire | 2 | 3.19x |
| Hampshire | 2 | 2.44x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 3.63x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.73x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 20.96x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.51x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 1.91x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bristol St Philip Jacob in Gloucestershire leads with 9 Polters recorded in 1881 and an index of 121.79x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bristol St Philip Jacob | 9 | 121.79x |
| Grays Thurrock | 5 | 684.93x |
| St George Hanover | 5 | 95.79x |
| Stowmarket | 5 | 892.86x |
| Hammersmith London | 4 | 40.61x |
| Northwood | 2 | 170.94x |
| Camberwell | 1 | 3.91x |
| Fairfield | 1 | 238.10x |
| Hatfield | 1 | 178.57x |
| Hornsey | 1 | 19.76x |
| Kidderminster Borough | 1 | 32.68x |
| Offcote Underwood | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 6.80x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 24.57x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 4.68x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 3.11x |
| Tonbridge | 1 | 20.33x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Polter 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 Polter 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 Polter households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 14 |
| Dressmaker | 3 |
| Wife | 2 |
| Armourer | 1 |
| Bootmaker | 1 |
| Bus Conductor | 1 |
| Bus Driver (Cabman) (Unemployed) | 1 |
| Chalk Labr | 1 |
| Coal Porter | 1 |
| Cook Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Dom Serv | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Farm Lab | 1 |
| Furrier | 1 |
| General Domestic | 1 |
| Housemaid (Dom Serv) | 1 |
| Licensed Hawker | 1 |
| Nurse Hospital Serv | 1 |
| Plasterer | 1 |
| Tailor (Journeyman) | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 41 people were recorded with the Polter surname. That placed it at #27,870 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 10 in 2016. That gives Polter a modern rank of #37,599.
A habitational surname derived from a Germanic place name meaning "noisy person".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Polter 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.