NameCensus.

UK surname

Reiter

An occupational surname of German origin referring to a horseman or cavalryman, derived from the German word "Reiter."

In the 1881 census there were 9 people recorded with the Reiter surname, ranking it #32,416 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 141, ranked #24,753, up from #32,416 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Calder and Polbeth, Knowsley and Central Bedfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Reiter is 141 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1466.7%.

1881 census count

9

Ranked #32,416

Modern count

141

2016, ranked #24,753

Peak year

2016

141 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • • Reiter had 9 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,416 surname in that year.
  • • The latest modern count shown here is 141 in 2016, ranked #24,753.
  • • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 30 in 1911.
  • • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Mature Families.

Map

Back to top

Reiter surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Reiter surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Reiter 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
1861 historical 14 #32,072
1881 historical 9 #32,416
1891 historical 11 #33,268
1901 historical 27 #31,057
1911 historical 30 #30,073
1997 modern 75 #30,109
1998 modern 85 #29,439
1999 modern 92 #28,833
2000 modern 91 #28,952
2001 modern 88 #29,056
2002 modern 97 #28,383
2003 modern 95 #28,536
2004 modern 94 #28,896
2005 modern 102 #27,689
2006 modern 108 #27,015
2007 modern 117 #26,066
2008 modern 113 #26,920
2009 modern 109 #28,145
2010 modern 126 #26,312
2011 modern 117 #27,334
2012 modern 137 #24,731
2013 modern 137 #25,149
2014 modern 139 #25,093
2015 modern 136 #25,352
2016 modern 141 #24,753

Geography

Back to top

Where Reiters are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Calder and Polbeth, Knowsley, Central Bedfordshire, North Hertfordshire and Broxtowe. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Calder and Polbeth West Lothian
2 Knowsley 012 Knowsley
3 Central Bedfordshire 010 Central Bedfordshire
4 North Hertfordshire 012 North Hertfordshire
5 Broxtowe 013 Broxtowe

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Reiter

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Recent female names

Nicole Amy Dominique Maud Lara Anna Sarah Jacqueline Deborah Susan

Recent male names

Simon Nicholas Graham Riaan Scott Julian Thomas Stewart Carl Ernst

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Reiter

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Established Mature Families

Nationally, the Reiter surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Mature Families, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Reiter household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Married couples predominate, many with older dependent children. Detached housing is common. Homeownership rates are the highest within this Supergroup. The presence of some students suggests that households are towards the end of a child rearing phase. Many residents have degree level qualifications, and the occupational profile is heavily skewed towards managerial and professional occupations. Residential developments commonly occur on the periphery of major urban cities or conurbations.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Established Homeowners with Children

Within London, Reiter is most associated with areas classed as Established Homeowners with Children, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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 predominantly British-born residents are typically married/in civil partnerships and own the properties in which they are raising their children. Parents are typically over 45, and many other residents are beyond normal retirement age. Detached and semi-detached houses predominate and multiple car ownership is common.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Reiter 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

Reiter falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Reiter 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 - Other

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

Origin

Back to top

Meaning and origin of Reiter

The surname Reiter originates from Germany and likely dates back to the 12th century. It is derived from the German word "reiter," meaning "rider" or "horseman." This occupation-based surname was likely given to someone whose profession involved riding horses, such as a messenger, courier, or soldier.

One of the earliest references to this surname can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Brandenburgensis, a collection of historical records from the Margraviate of Brandenburg, which mentions a "Conrad Reitere" in 1226. Additionally, the surname is recorded in the Bürgeraufnahmen der Stadt Hannover, a registry of citizens in the city of Hanover, which lists a "Henning Reyter" in 1389.

In the 15th century, the surname appeared in various forms, including "Reyther," "Reyder," and "Reidter." One notable individual from this period was Johann Reiter (1430-1495), a German composer and music theorist who served as a choirmaster at the court of the Elector Palatine.

During the 16th century, the Reiter surname gained prominence with individuals like Johann Reiter (1508-1572), a German theologian and reformer who played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation. Another notable figure was Hans Reiter (1520-1585), a German painter known for his religious and historical works.

In the 17th century, the Reiter surname was associated with several military figures, including Georg Reiter (1610-1680), a German mercenary who fought in the Thirty Years' War. Another notable individual was Johann Reiter (1638-1716), a German jurist and diplomat who served as the Imperial Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire.

The 18th century saw the rise of the Reiter family in the arts and sciences. Johann Nepomuk Reiter (1734-1804) was a German composer and organist, while Johann Reiter (1755-1828) was a German astronomer and mathematician who made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics.

Moving into the 19th century, the Reiter surname continued to appear in various fields. Friedrich Reiter (1805-1883) was a German politician and lawyer who served as a member of the Frankfurt Parliament. Additionally, Karl Reiter (1822-1897) was a German composer and conductor known for his works in sacred and secular music.

Overall, the surname Reiter has a rich history spanning several centuries and encompassing individuals from various professions, including composers, theologians, artists, military figures, and scientists.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Reiter families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Reiter 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. Middlesex leads with 6 Reiters recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.85x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 6 6.85x
Yorkshire 2 2.30x
Surrey 1 2.34x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 4 Reiters recorded in 1881 and an index of 56.74x.

Place Total Index
St Pancras London 4 56.74x
Sculcoates 2 144.93x
St Giles In Fields 2 666.67x
Clapham 1 90.91x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Kate 1
Mari 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Adolphus 1
E. 1
Edward 1
Leopold 1
Mat 1
Rash 1
Richard 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 Reiter households.

Occupation Count
Hairdresser 2
Key Maker(Locksmith) 1
Organ Builder Employing 2 Boys 1
Scholar 1
Shoemakers Apprentice 1

FAQ

Reiter surname: questions and answers

How common was the Reiter surname in 1881?

In 1881, 9 people were recorded with the Reiter surname. That placed it at #32,416 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Reiter surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 141 in 2016. That gives Reiter a modern rank of #24,753.

What does the Reiter surname mean?

An occupational surname of German origin referring to a horseman or cavalryman, derived from the German word "Reiter."

What does the Reiter map show?

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