NameCensus.

UK surname

Poster

A surname derived from an occupation involving posting or delivering messages.

In the 1881 census there were 44 people recorded with the Poster surname, ranking it #27,447 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 35, ranked #35,703, down from #27,447 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Manchester, Middlesborough and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include St. Helens, Barnet and Shropshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Poster is 420 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 20.5%.

1881 census count

44

Ranked #27,447

Modern count

35

2016, ranked #35,703

Peak year

1891

420 bearers

Map years

5

1851 to 1998

Key insights

  • • Poster had 44 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #27,447 surname in that year.
  • • The latest modern count shown here is 35 in 2016, ranked #35,703.
  • • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 420 in 1891.
  • • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Map

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Poster surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Poster surname density by area, 1998 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Poster 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 103 #16,835
1861 historical 307 #8,262
1881 historical 44 #27,447
1891 historical 420 #8,528
1901 historical 63 #27,134
1911 historical 188 #15,550
1997 modern 151 #21,034
1998 modern 100 #27,619
1999 modern 91 #28,937
2000 modern 74 #30,785
2001 modern 47 #33,219
2002 modern 48 #33,459
2003 modern 47 #33,619
2004 modern 42 #34,222
2005 modern 40 #34,562
2006 modern 38 #35,003
2007 modern 43 #34,845
2008 modern 39 #35,191
2009 modern 34 #35,608
2010 modern 39 #35,451
2011 modern 36 #35,613
2012 modern 34 #35,711
2013 modern 33 #35,808
2014 modern 38 #35,547
2015 modern 36 #35,654
2016 modern 35 #35,703

Geography

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Where Posters are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Manchester, Middlesborough, Liverpool, Preston and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to St. Helens, Barnet, Shropshire and Westminster. 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 Manchester Lancashire
2 Middlesborough Durham
3 Liverpool Lancashire
4 Preston Lancashire
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 St. Helens 008 St. Helens
2 St. Helens 003 St. Helens
3 Barnet 018 Barnet
4 Shropshire 029 Shropshire
5 Westminster 002 Westminster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Poster

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

Historical female names

Mary Elizabeth Sarah Ann Jane Ellen Margaret Annie Alice Emma

Historical male names

John William James Thomas George Charles Robert Joseph Edward Henry

Recent female names

Betty Christine Kim Rachel Mabel Milly Sarah Mary Helen Evelyn

Recent male names

Michael Richard Andrew Clive David Thomas Robert Mark Ian John

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Poster

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Poster surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Poster household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Poster is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Poster 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

Poster falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Poster 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 Poster, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Origin

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Meaning and origin of Poster

The surname POSTER is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, specifically in the county of Worcestershire. It likely derived from the Old English word "postere," which referred to a messenger or courier who carried letters and parcels.

Records suggest that the earliest known instances of the POSTER surname can be traced back to the 13th century. One of the earliest documented individuals bearing this name was Richard le Postere, who was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275.

In the 14th century, the surname POSTER appeared in various historical records, such as the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1347, where a certain John Poster was listed as a resident of the area.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners and tenants commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the POSTER surname. However, it is possible that some of the individuals listed under different occupational names were ancestors of the POSTER family.

Over the centuries, the POSTER surname has been subject to various spelling variations, including Poster, Postur, Postar, and Postere. These variations can be attributed to the inconsistent spelling conventions of the time and the influence of regional dialects.

Historically, the POSTER surname has been associated with several notable individuals, including:

1. Sir John Poster (1520-1587), an English lawyer and politician who served as a member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. 2. Thomas Poster (1610-1669), a prominent English Puritan minister and author who wrote extensively on theological subjects. 3. Mary Poster (1742-1818), a British philanthropist known for her work in establishing schools and supporting charitable organizations in London. 4. William Poster (1779-1860), an English architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in the city of Bath. 5. Edward Poster (1854-1932), a British explorer and naturalist who led expeditions to Africa and South America, contributing to the study of wildlife and indigenous cultures.

While the POSTER surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and intermarriage. However, the detailed history and origins of the name remain firmly rooted in the medieval English countryside, where the first Posters established themselves as messengers and couriers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Poster families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Poster 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. Lancashire leads with 10 Posters recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.96x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 10 1.96x
Sussex 7 9.68x
Middlesex 6 1.40x
Surrey 6 2.87x
Warwickshire 4 3.70x
Essex 3 3.54x
Cumberland 1 2.71x
Glamorgan 1 1.34x
Gloucestershire 1 1.19x
Hampshire 1 1.14x
Hertfordshire 1 3.38x
Kent 1 0.68x
Northamptonshire 1 2.48x
Yorkshire 1 0.24x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brighton in Sussex leads with 7 Posters recorded in 1881 and an index of 47.95x.

Place Total Index
Brighton 7 47.95x
Preston 7 51.40x
Newington 6 37.85x
Tottenham 5 73.21x
Birmingham 4 11.09x
West Ham 3 16.04x
Abram 1 256.41x
Barrow In Furness 1 14.43x
Chipping Barnet 1 192.31x
Dartford 1 66.67x
Ecclesall Bierlow 1 11.56x
Hampstead London 1 14.97x
Heaton Norris 1 34.48x
Henbury 1 243.90x
Rushton 1 1428.57x
Ryde 1 52.91x
Threlkeld 1 1666.67x
Ystradyfodwg 1 15.27x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 5
Elizabeth 2
Ellen 2
Minnie 2
Agnes 1
Ann 1
Annie 1
Charlotte 1
E.A. 1
Edith 1
Emma 1
Louisa 1
Mabel 1
Margaret 1
Rhoda 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 4
William 3
Charles 2
George 2
Arthur 1
Chas. 1
Frederick 1
Henry 1
Jonothan 1
Leonard 1
Ralph 1
Richard 1
Thos. 1
Whitfield 1

Top occupations

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 Poster households.

Occupation Count
Scholar 10
Housemaid 2
Bricklayer 1
Cab Driver 1
Carpenter 1
Clerk In Merchants Office 1
Coachman 1
Coal Miner 1
Dress Maker 1
Formerly Hatter 1
Gun Maker 1
Housekeeper 1
Laborer 1
Labourer In Coal Mine 1
Mill Hand Paper 1
Parlourmaid Domestic Servant 1
Printers Overseer 1
Quarry Laborer 1
Shop Manager (G Shopk'pr) 1
Traveller In Spirit Trade 1

FAQ

Poster surname: questions and answers

How common was the Poster surname in 1881?

In 1881, 44 people were recorded with the Poster surname. That placed it at #27,447 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Poster surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 35 in 2016. That gives Poster a modern rank of #35,703.

What does the Poster surname mean?

A surname derived from an occupation involving posting or delivering messages.

What does the Poster map show?

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