NameCensus.

UK surname

Retter

A surname derived from the German word meaning "savior" or "rescuer".

In the 1881 census there were 88 people recorded with the Retter surname, ranking it #21,211 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 347, ranked #13,259, up from #21,211 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Thomas the Apostle, Whitestone, Cardiff St John and St Mary and Wroughton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Devon, Cornwall and Hillingdon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Retter is 392 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 294.3%.

1881 census count

88

Ranked #21,211

Modern count

347

2016, ranked #13,259

Peak year

2002

392 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Retter had 88 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #21,211 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 347 in 2016, ranked #13,259.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 189 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Retter surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Retter surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Retter 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 30 #27,891
1861 historical 72 #24,643
1881 historical 88 #21,211
1891 historical 112 #22,291
1901 historical 146 #18,335
1911 historical 189 #15,488
1997 modern 361 #11,892
1998 modern 386 #11,668
1999 modern 379 #11,922
2000 modern 384 #11,759
2001 modern 373 #11,830
2002 modern 392 #11,607
2003 modern 375 #11,808
2004 modern 370 #11,936
2005 modern 372 #11,813
2006 modern 355 #12,316
2007 modern 361 #12,303
2008 modern 355 #12,565
2009 modern 351 #12,940
2010 modern 358 #13,001
2011 modern 358 #12,883
2012 modern 369 #12,443
2013 modern 381 #12,360
2014 modern 373 #12,633
2015 modern 360 #12,880
2016 modern 347 #13,259

Geography

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Where Retters are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Thomas the Apostle, Whitestone, Cardiff St John and St Mary, Wroughton, Venn Ottery and Harpford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Devon, Cornwall and Hillingdon. 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 St Thomas the Apostle, Whitestone Devon
2 Cardiff St John and St Mary Glamorganshire
3 Wroughton Wiltshire
4 Venn Ottery Devon
5 Harpford Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Devon 001 East Devon
2 East Devon 009 East Devon
3 Cornwall 009 Cornwall
4 East Devon 012 East Devon
5 Hillingdon 029 Hillingdon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Retter

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Retter

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Retter surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Retter household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Retter is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Retter is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Retter falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Retter is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Retter

The surname Retter is of German origin, derived from the Middle High German word "reter" or "retter," meaning "savior" or "rescuer." This name likely originated in the 13th or 14th century as an occupational name for someone who performed rescues or acted as a life-saver.

Historically, the name Retter can be traced back to various regions of present-day Germany, particularly in areas such as Bavaria and Saxony. It is believed that some of the earliest recorded instances of the name appear in Medieval German documents and records, though specific references are scarce.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Heinrich Retter, a German soldier and military leader who served during the Thirty Years' War in the 17th century. Another notable individual was Johann Retter, a German theologian and author born in 1672, who wrote extensively on religious topics.

In the 18th century, the Retter surname was found in various parts of Germany, including the town of Rettershof in Saxony, which may have derived its name from the presence of individuals bearing the Retter surname in the area.

During the 19th century, the Retter name gained prominence with individuals such as Friedrich Retter, a German philosopher and writer born in 1809, who published works on ethics and moral philosophy. Another notable figure was Karl Retter, a German politician and lawyer born in 1863, who served as a member of the Reichstag (Imperial Diet) in the late 19th century.

One of the most famous bearers of the Retter surname was Theodor Retter, a German-American artist and painter born in 1876. He was known for his landscapes and seascapes, and his works are featured in various museums and collections around the world.

While the surname Retter is primarily associated with German origins, it has also been found in other European countries, potentially through migration or linguistic influences. However, the name remains strongly rooted in its German heritage and the meaning of "savior" or "rescuer" that has been carried through generations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Retter families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Retter 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. Devon leads with 76 Retters recorded in 1881 and an index of 42.07x.

County Total Index
Devon 76 42.07x
Somerset 9 6.44x
Middlesex 2 0.23x
Montgomeryshire 1 5.03x
Yorkshire 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ottery St Mary in Devon leads with 28 Retters recorded in 1881 and an index of 2352.94x.

Place Total Index
Ottery St Mary 28 2352.94x
Clist Honiton 20 22222.22x
Harpford 11 13750.00x
Ashill 9 6428.57x
Talaton 8 5714.29x
Aylesbeare 4 1538.46x
Otterton 3 1034.48x
Pinhoe 2 1250.00x
Llanfair Caereinion 1 147.06x
Mile End Old Town 1 7.30x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 1 32.57x
St Pancras London 1 1.43x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 6
Mary 4
Ann 2
Elizh. 2
Rosina 2
Annie 1
Bessy 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Elizabeth 1
Fanny 1
Flora 1
Jane 1
Leah 1
Louisa 1
Maud 1
Rebecca 1
Rhoda 1
Rose 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 7
John 4
William 4
David 3
Charles 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Giles 2
Henry 2
James 2
Samuel 2
Thomas 2
Walter 2
Willie 2
Aaron 1
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Arty 1
Charls 1
Chas. 1
Courtney 1
Edwin 1
Frank 1
Fred.H. 1
Frederick 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Herbert 1
Jos.H. 1
Lewis 1
Louis 1
Mark 1

FAQ

Retter surname: questions and answers

How common was the Retter surname in 1881?

In 1881, 88 people were recorded with the Retter surname. That placed it at #21,211 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Retter surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 347 in 2016. That gives Retter a modern rank of #13,259.

What does the Retter surname mean?

A surname derived from the German word meaning "savior" or "rescuer".

What does the Retter map show?

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