UK surname
An occupational surname referring to someone who putted or repaired roads.
In the 1881 census there were 21 people recorded with the Putter surname, ranking it #30,609 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 70, ranked #33,700, down from #30,609 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to West Grinstead, Newcastle All Saints and St James Clerkenwell. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Putter is 113 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 233.3%.
1881 census count
21
Ranked #30,609
Modern count
70
2016, ranked #33,700
Peak year
1891
113 bearers
Map years
1
1891 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Putter surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Putter 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 | 18 | #30,094 |
| 1861 | historical | 70 | #24,911 |
| 1881 | historical | 21 | #30,609 |
| 1891 | historical | 113 | #22,162 |
| 1901 | historical | 34 | #30,281 |
| 1911 | historical | 25 | #30,654 |
| 1997 | modern | 23 | #35,484 |
| 1998 | modern | 29 | #34,948 |
| 1999 | modern | 30 | #34,939 |
| 2000 | modern | 22 | #35,684 |
| 2001 | modern | 27 | #35,041 |
| 2002 | modern | 24 | #35,520 |
| 2003 | modern | 26 | #35,371 |
| 2004 | modern | 31 | #35,105 |
| 2005 | modern | 36 | #34,894 |
| 2006 | modern | 40 | #34,854 |
| 2007 | modern | 38 | #35,153 |
| 2008 | modern | 42 | #34,994 |
| 2009 | modern | 45 | #34,972 |
| 2010 | modern | 54 | #34,582 |
| 2011 | modern | 62 | #34,045 |
| 2012 | modern | 58 | #34,404 |
| 2013 | modern | 75 | #33,409 |
| 2014 | modern | 75 | #33,473 |
| 2015 | modern | 72 | #33,595 |
| 2016 | modern | 70 | #33,700 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around West Grinstead, Newcastle All Saints, St James Clerkenwell, Battersea and St Marylebone. 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 | West Grinstead | Sussex |
| 2 | Newcastle All Saints | Northumberland |
| 3 | St James Clerkenwell | London (Central Districts) |
| 4 | Battersea | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Putter 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 Putter, 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 Putter surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Putter 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, Putter 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 Putter is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Putter, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname PUTTER is of German origin and dates back to the late medieval period. It is believed to have originated from the Old German word "putten," which means "to push" or "to strike." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who worked as a potter or a maker of earthenware vessels.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name PUTTER can be found in the Kirchenbücher (church records) of the town of Memmingen, located in the Bavarian region of Germany. An entry from the year 1487 mentions a certain Hans Putter, who was a master potter in the town.
In the 16th century, the name PUTTER appears in various historical documents across different regions of Germany. For instance, in the city of Nuremberg, there are records of a family of potters named Putter who were renowned for their skilled craftsmanship.
The PUTTER name is also associated with the town of Höchst, which was a renowned center for pottery production in the 17th and 18th centuries. Several members of the Putter family were involved in the pottery industry there, contributing to the town's reputation for producing high-quality ceramics.
Notable individuals throughout history who bore the surname PUTTER include Johann Putter (1659-1735), a German jurist and professor of law at the University of Göttingen. Another notable figure was Friedrich Putter (1719-1807), a German philosopher and author who wrote extensively on the concepts of natural law and the theory of government.
In the 19th century, the name PUTTER gained prominence in the field of literature with the writer and critic Wilhelm Putter (1792-1869), who was known for his works on German literature and culture. Additionally, Carl Putter (1844-1928) was a respected German architect and urban planner who contributed significantly to the development of modern cities.
While the PUTTER name has its roots in Germany, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and immigration. However, the earliest recorded instances and historical references to this surname can be traced back to its German origins and the long-standing tradition of pottery production in various regions of the country.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Putter 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. Surrey leads with 8 Putters recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.02x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Surrey | 8 | 8.02x |
| Norfolk | 4 | 12.70x |
| Middlesex | 2 | 0.98x |
| Sussex | 2 | 5.79x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 3.87x |
| Durham | 1 | 1.64x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 7.08x |
| Shropshire | 1 | 5.65x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bermondsey in Surrey leads with 5 Putters recorded in 1881 and an index of 81.97x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bermondsey | 5 | 81.97x |
| Tittleshall | 4 | 10000.00x |
| Newington | 3 | 39.68x |
| Hastings St Mary | 2 | 232.56x |
| Sambourn | 2 | 5000.00x |
| Benfieldside | 1 | 250.00x |
| Diddlebury | 1 | 1666.67x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 13.28x |
| St Andrew Holborn | 1 | 144.93x |
| Standon | 1 | 666.67x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Putter 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 Putter 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 Putter households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Mariner | 2 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Farm (Indoor) Serv | 1 |
| Farms 442 Acres Employing 17 Men & 4 Boys | 1 |
| Fly Driver | 1 |
| Ganger At Customs (C S Off) | 1 |
| Gardner N D | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Needle Straightener | 1 |
| Scholar | 1 |
| Servant | 1 |
| Shoemaker | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 21 people were recorded with the Putter surname. That placed it at #30,609 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 70 in 2016. That gives Putter a modern rank of #33,700.
An occupational surname referring to someone who putted or repaired roads.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Putter 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.