NameCensus.

UK surname

Reuter

Derived from the German occupational name for a clearing of woodland, from the German word "reuten" meaning "to clear land."

In the 1881 census there were 44 people recorded with the Reuter surname, ranking it #27,447 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 154, ranked #23,293, up from #27,447 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bracknell Forest, Portsmouth and Huntingdonshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Reuter is 167 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 250.0%.

1881 census count

44

Ranked #27,447

Modern count

154

2016, ranked #23,293

Peak year

1999

167 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Reuter had 44 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #27,447 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 154 in 2016, ranked #23,293.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 98 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Reuter surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Reuter surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Reuter 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 2 #33,133
1861 historical 9 #32,724
1881 historical 44 #27,447
1891 historical 41 #31,095
1901 historical 79 #25,363
1911 historical 98 #22,959
1997 modern 129 #23,143
1998 modern 155 #21,227
1999 modern 167 #20,374
2000 modern 154 #21,415
2001 modern 148 #21,664
2002 modern 159 #21,086
2003 modern 142 #22,460
2004 modern 147 #22,094
2005 modern 145 #22,253
2006 modern 141 #22,833
2007 modern 142 #23,025
2008 modern 140 #23,511
2009 modern 147 #23,248
2010 modern 154 #23,082
2011 modern 154 #22,886
2012 modern 150 #23,264
2013 modern 160 #22,621
2014 modern 156 #23,231
2015 modern 158 #22,913
2016 modern 154 #23,293

Geography

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Where Reuters 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 Bracknell Forest, Portsmouth, Huntingdonshire, IZ01 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bracknell Forest 007 Bracknell Forest
2 Portsmouth 017 Portsmouth
3 Huntingdonshire 016 Huntingdonshire
4 IZ01 East Lothian
5 Westminster 017 Westminster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Reuter

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Reuter

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Reuter, 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 Reuter surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Reuter 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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Reuter is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Reuter 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

Reuter 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 Reuter 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 Reuter, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Reuter

The surname Reuter is of German origin, derived from the word "Ritter," meaning "knight" or "rider." It first emerged in the Middle Ages, likely between the 12th and 14th centuries, when surnames were gradually adopted across Europe.

Reuter was initially used as an occupational surname, referring to individuals who were employed as messengers or couriers on horseback. This profession was crucial in those times, as it facilitated communication and the transfer of information across distances.

The earliest known records of the name Reuter can be traced back to the German states of Bavaria and Saxony. In the 15th century, a document from the city of Leipzig mentions a certain "Hans Reuter," indicating the presence of this surname in the region.

One notable historical figure bearing the name Reuter was Friedrich Reuter (1805-1874), a German writer and politician. He was a leading figure in the democratic movement of the 19th century and played an instrumental role in the Revolution of 1848.

Another prominent individual was Paul Reuter (1816-1899), a German-born entrepreneur who founded the news agency Reuter (now Reuters) in 1851. His innovative approach to gathering and disseminating news on a global scale revolutionized the journalism industry.

In the 16th century, the spelling variation "Reutter" appeared in some regions of Germany, particularly in the state of Baden-Württemberg. This variant likely stemmed from local pronunciation differences.

Ernst Reuter (1889-1953) was a German politician and the governing mayor of West Berlin during the tense years of the Berlin Blockade and the early stages of the Cold War. His unwavering leadership and commitment to democratic values earned him widespread respect.

The name Reuter also found its way to other parts of Europe, including the Netherlands, where it took the form "Ruiter" or "Reijter." This variation reflected the Dutch pronunciation and spelling conventions.

In the late 18th century, Johann Reuter (1761-1829), a German-born botanist and explorer, made significant contributions to the study of flora in the Cape Colony (present-day South Africa). His extensive fieldwork and collections expanded scientific knowledge of the region's plant life.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Reuter families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Reuter 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 13 Reuters recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.03x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 13 3.03x
Surrey 12 5.74x
Essex 7 8.26x
Pembrokeshire 4 29.33x
Kent 2 1.37x
Staffordshire 2 1.38x
Hampshire 1 1.14x
Lancashire 1 0.20x
Sussex 1 1.38x
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. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 8 Reuters recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.38x.

Place Total Index
Lambeth 8 21.38x
West Ham 7 37.43x
Battersea 4 25.33x
Islington London 4 9.62x
Pembroke St Mary 4 227.27x
St Marylebone London 3 13.09x
Lewisham 2 25.61x
St Luke London 2 29.07x
St Pancras London 2 5.79x
Stoke Upon Trent 2 13.02x
Frant 1 196.08x
Hordle 1 666.67x
Kensington London 1 4.19x
Liverpool 1 3.23x
Sculcoates 1 14.84x
St George In East 1 34.25x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
Johann 2
John 2
Leopold 2
Albert 1
Bertie 1
Charles 1
David 1
Edmond 1
Edward 1
Frederick 1
George 1
Henry 1
Hermann 1
Kare 1
Max 1
Sydney 1
Victor 1
William 1
Willsbard 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 Reuter households.

FAQ

Reuter surname: questions and answers

How common was the Reuter surname in 1881?

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

How common is the Reuter surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 154 in 2016. That gives Reuter a modern rank of #23,293.

What does the Reuter surname mean?

Derived from the German occupational name for a clearing of woodland, from the German word "reuten" meaning "to clear land."

What does the Reuter map show?

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