UK surname
A surname derived from the Latin word potator, meaning drinker or toper.
In the 1881 census there were 41 people recorded with the Poter surname, ranking it #27,870 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 39, ranked #35,484, down from #27,870 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst, Wolstanton and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Poter is 153 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 4.9%.
1881 census count
41
Ranked #27,870
Modern count
39
2016, ranked #35,484
Peak year
1891
153 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Poter surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Poter surname density by area, 1891 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 | 97 | #17,484 |
| 1861 | historical | 147 | #15,539 |
| 1881 | historical | 41 | #27,870 |
| 1891 | historical | 153 | #18,078 |
| 1901 | historical | 23 | #31,466 |
| 1911 | historical | 66 | #26,249 |
| 1997 | modern | 62 | #31,412 |
| 1998 | modern | 61 | #31,841 |
| 1999 | modern | 52 | #32,848 |
| 2000 | modern | 32 | #34,705 |
| 2001 | modern | 19 | #35,866 |
| 2002 | modern | 21 | #35,798 |
| 2003 | modern | 15 | #36,415 |
| 2004 | modern | 20 | #36,053 |
| 2005 | modern | 21 | #36,083 |
| 2006 | modern | 21 | #36,179 |
| 2007 | modern | 19 | #36,450 |
| 2008 | modern | 20 | #36,443 |
| 2009 | modern | 21 | #36,470 |
| 2010 | modern | 26 | #36,220 |
| 2011 | modern | 25 | #36,252 |
| 2012 | modern | 26 | #36,166 |
| 2013 | modern | 27 | #36,150 |
| 2014 | modern | 32 | #35,896 |
| 2015 | modern | 38 | #35,526 |
| 2016 | modern | 39 | #35,484 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst, Wolstanton, Manchester, St Leonard Bromley and Brechin. 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 | Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst | Sussex |
| 2 | Wolstanton | Staffordshire |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | St Leonard Bromley | London (East Districts) |
| 5 | Brechin | Forfar |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Poter 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 Poter, 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 Poter surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Poter 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, Poter 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 Poter is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Poter, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname POTER is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be an occupational name derived from the Old English word "potere," meaning a maker or seller of pots. The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Potere" and "Pottor."
The name was primarily concentrated in the counties of Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, and Yorkshire, where the pottery industry was prevalent. Some of the earliest recorded instances of the name include Robert le Potere, who lived in Derbyshire in the 13th century, and William Pottere, who was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1327.
Over time, the name evolved into various spellings, such as Pottere, Pottor, and Poter, reflecting regional dialects and scribal variations. It also took on locational forms, such as de Pottergate, referring to those who lived near the potter's quarter or street in a particular town or village.
Notable individuals with the surname POTER throughout history include Sir John Poter (c. 1450-1504), a prominent English lawyer and judge who served as Chief Justice of the King's Bench during the reign of Henry VII. Another notable figure was Thomas Poter (c. 1560-1618), an English clergyman and author who served as the Archdeacon of Taunton.
In the literary realm, Philip Poter (1597-1652) was an English dramatist and poet who is best known for his tragedy "The Tragedy of Nero" and his collection of love poems titled "The Solitary Wooer." William Poter (1624-1677) was an English writer and translator who is remembered for his translations of French and Spanish works, including "The History of Don Fenise" and "The Comical History of Francion."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in America was John Poter, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 and later became a prominent landowner and planter in the colony.
While the surname POTER has evolved over time and spread to various parts of the world, its origins can be traced back to the medieval English pottery industry, where it served as an occupational identifier for those involved in the making and selling of pots.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Poter 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. Durham leads with 8 Poters recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.66x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Durham | 8 | 7.66x |
| Somerset | 6 | 10.62x |
| Middlesex | 5 | 1.42x |
| Surrey | 4 | 2.34x |
| Yorkshire | 4 | 1.15x |
| Essex | 3 | 4.33x |
| Lanarkshire | 2 | 1.76x |
| Cornwall | 1 | 2.52x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 1.45x |
| Leicestershire | 1 | 2.57x |
| Shropshire | 1 | 3.30x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portbury in Somerset leads with 6 Poters recorded in 1881 and an index of 6666.67x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Portbury | 6 | 6666.67x |
| Coundon Grange | 5 | 2173.91x |
| Islington London | 4 | 11.75x |
| Bishopwearmouth | 3 | 33.44x |
| Lambeth | 3 | 9.80x |
| West Ham | 3 | 19.61x |
| Leeds | 2 | 10.18x |
| Albrighton | 1 | 666.67x |
| Ardsley | 1 | 250.00x |
| Bothwell | 1 | 32.47x |
| Burstow | 1 | 666.67x |
| Clifton | 1 | 28.74x |
| Govan | 1 | 3.56x |
| Leicester St Margaret | 1 | 10.54x |
| Potter Newton | 1 | 163.93x |
| St Just In Penwith | 1 | 129.87x |
| Westminster St John | 1 | 23.36x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Poter 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 Poter 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 Poter households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 6 |
| None | 2 |
| Baker | 1 |
| Boiler Fireman (Stoker) | 1 |
| Butcher | 1 |
| Cab Driver | 1 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Coal Miners Wife | 1 |
| Coml Clerk | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Farm Laborer | 1 |
| Farm Laborer Wife | 1 |
| General Labr | 1 |
| General Serv Domestic | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Shoe Finisher | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 41 people were recorded with the Poter surname. That placed it at #27,870 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 39 in 2016. That gives Poter a modern rank of #35,484.
A surname derived from the Latin word potator, meaning drinker or toper.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Poter 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.