NameCensus.

UK surname

Shooter

An occupational surname derived from someone who was an archer or marksman.

In the 1881 census there were 443 people recorded with the Shooter surname, ranking it #7,395 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 852, ranked #6,566, up from #7,395 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Sutton-in-Ashfield, Fulwood, Pinxton and Ilkeston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Selby, Ashfield and Mansfield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Shooter is 938 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 92.3%.

1881 census count

443

Ranked #7,395

Modern count

852

2016, ranked #6,566

Peak year

1999

938 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Shooter had 443 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,395 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 852 in 2016, ranked #6,566.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 872 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Shooter surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Shooter surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Shooter 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 327 #7,119
1861 historical 314 #8,088
1881 historical 443 #7,395
1891 historical 562 #6,758
1901 historical 726 #6,102
1911 historical 872 #5,098
1997 modern 897 #5,978
1998 modern 932 #5,995
1999 modern 938 #6,008
2000 modern 928 #6,039
2001 modern 908 #6,045
2002 modern 934 #6,017
2003 modern 907 #6,048
2004 modern 894 #6,123
2005 modern 864 #6,230
2006 modern 860 #6,260
2007 modern 870 #6,259
2008 modern 871 #6,288
2009 modern 877 #6,400
2010 modern 914 #6,316
2011 modern 899 #6,330
2012 modern 858 #6,478
2013 modern 869 #6,520
2014 modern 856 #6,625
2015 modern 855 #6,569
2016 modern 852 #6,566

Geography

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Where Shooters are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Sutton-in-Ashfield, Fulwood, Pinxton, Ilkeston, Bradford and Kirby-in-Ashfield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Selby, Ashfield and Mansfield. 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 Sutton-in-Ashfield, Fulwood Nottinghamshire
2 Pinxton Nottinghamshire
3 Ilkeston Nottinghamshire
4 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Kirby-in-Ashfield Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Selby 001 Selby
2 Selby 005 Selby
3 Ashfield 004 Ashfield
4 Mansfield 008 Mansfield
5 Ashfield 005 Ashfield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Shooter

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Shooter

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Shooter, 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 Shooter surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Shooter 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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Shooter is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Shooter 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

Shooter falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Shooter is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Shooter

The surname "SHOOTER" is of English origin, derived from the occupational name for an archer or a marksman, particularly one skilled in using a bow and arrow or other projectile weapons. This name first emerged in the late 12th century and was likely used to denote a skilled hunter or a soldier proficient in archery.

The name "SHOOTER" is believed to have originated from the Old English word "scēotere," which means "shooter" or "archer." It is closely related to the Middle English word "shuter," which had the same meaning. The earliest recorded instance of this surname dates back to the late 12th century, appearing in the Curia Regis Rolls of 1199 as "Roger le Schutor."

In the 13th century, the surname "SHOOTER" was found in various regions of England, particularly in counties such as Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, and Gloucestershire. This suggests that the name was associated with areas where archery and hunting were common activities.

One notable historical reference to the surname "SHOOTER" can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which lists a certain "John le Shuiter." This record provides evidence of the surname's usage and spelling variations during the Middle Ages.

Among the earliest recorded individuals with the surname "SHOOTER" were:

1. Thomas Shooter (born around 1300), a landowner from Gloucestershire, mentioned in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1334. 2. William Shoter (born circa 1350), a yeoman from Oxfordshire, recorded in the Poll Tax Returns of 1379. 3. John Shuter (born around 1400), a farmer from Warwickshire, mentioned in the Court Rolls of 1428. 4. Alice Shooter (born circa 1450), a seamstress from Gloucestershire, recorded in the Gloucestershire Wills and Inventories of 1478. 5. Robert Shooter (born around 1500), a notable archer and huntsman in the service of King Henry VIII, mentioned in the Court Records of 1525.

The surname "SHOOTER" has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Shooter's Hill in Kent, Shooters Green in Buckinghamshire, and Shooter's Way in Essex. These place names likely originated from individuals bearing the surname or from locations where skilled archers or hunters lived or practiced their craft.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Shooter families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Shooter 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. Yorkshire leads with 155 Shooters recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.62x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 155 3.62x
Nottinghamshire 129 22.15x
Derbyshire 77 11.38x
Devon 23 2.56x
Middlesex 17 0.39x
Surrey 9 0.43x
Kent 8 0.54x
Sussex 6 0.82x
Warwickshire 6 0.55x
Lincolnshire 5 0.72x
Staffordshire 4 0.27x
Lancashire 2 0.04x
Monmouthshire 1 0.32x
Stirlingshire 1 0.63x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ilkeston in Derbyshire leads with 29 Shooters recorded in 1881 and an index of 152.87x.

Place Total Index
Ilkeston 29 152.87x
Pinxton 28 813.95x
Mansfield 23 114.09x
Kirkby In Ashfield 18 288.92x
Sutton In Ashfield 15 118.67x
Bowling 14 33.01x
Stretton 14 1505.38x
Exeter St Sidwell 12 58.25x
Hucknall Torkard 11 74.48x
Alfreton 10 48.66x
Chesterfield 10 39.43x
Ecclesall Bierlow 10 11.48x
Idle 10 50.35x
Newington 9 76.34x
Hunslet 8 11.98x
North Bierley 8 34.60x
Barnsley 7 15.85x
Hackney London 7 2.89x
Teversall 7 1147.54x
Arnold 6 70.59x
Aston 6 2.00x
Brighton 6 4.08x
Holbeck 6 21.15x
Huntwick Cum Nostell 6 705.88x
Sculcoates 6 8.84x
Southwark Christchurch 6 29.63x
Barton St Mary 5 144.09x
Bingley 5 18.34x
Holy Trinity 5 4.85x
Hucknall Under 5 166.67x
Kimberworth 5 21.03x
Pentrich 5 131.23x
Ackton 4 380.95x
Ashford 4 27.86x
Bradford 4 3.86x
Exeter St George The 4 404.04x
Exeter St Paul 4 224.72x
Hipperholme Cum 4 21.25x
Horton In Bradford 4 5.98x
Hunsworth 4 177.78x
Knottingley 4 53.12x
Mansfield Woodhouse 4 103.09x
Sandal Magna 4 63.19x
Sheffield 4 2.93x
Shipley 4 18.00x
Southwell 4 94.34x
Bradfield 3 18.17x
Cheriton 3 49.92x
Codnor Loscoe 3 55.97x
Lambeth 3 0.80x
Nottingham St Mary 3 1.99x
Staveley 3 24.98x
West Bromwich 3 3.59x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 2 5.01x
Bulwell 2 15.80x
Hambleton 2 253.16x
Hasland 2 29.03x
Islington London 2 0.48x
Leeds 2 0.83x
Purston Jaglin 2 192.31x
St Pancras London 2 0.58x
Walden Stubbs 2 909.09x
Willesden 2 4.91x
Wyke In Bradford 2 26.11x
Beckenham 1 5.19x
Blackwell 1 30.03x
Burton Extra 1 11.96x
Calverley Cum Farsley 1 8.22x
Calverton 1 54.35x
Carnforth 1 35.46x
East Stamford Bridge 1 169.49x
Exeter St Leonard 1 40.65x
Exeter St Mary Major 1 18.45x
Finchley 1 6.04x
Isleworth 1 5.21x
Mynyddyslwyn 1 8.12x
Newark Upon Trent 1 4.78x
Normanton 1 7.77x
Salford 1 0.66x
Thurgoland 1 34.60x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 30
Sarah 17
Emma 16
Elizabeth 15
Hannah 10
Ann 9
Eliza 8
Martha 8
Ada 6
Jane 6
Alice 5
Annie 5
Ellen 5
Agnes 4
Caroline 4
Florence 4
Maria 4
Edith 3
Fanny 3
Harriet 3
Lucy 3
Betsy 2
Catherine 2
Elizth. 2
Emily 2
Ethel 2
Gertrude 2
Margaret 2
Minnie 2
Selina 2
Amey 1
Annis 1
Beatrice 1
Bessie 1
Bridget 1
Cecil 1
Child 1
Clara 1
Constance 1
Eleanor 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Henritta 1
Isabel 1
Joanna 1
Kate 1
Laura 1
Lilly 1
Lizzie 1
Tamar 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 31
William 31
George 26
James 14
Thomas 13
Charles 7
Joseph 7
Samuel 7
Albert 6
Arthur 6
Henry 6
Herbert 4
Alfred 3
Edward 3
Frank 3
Harry 3
Richard 3
Edmund 2
Jesse 2
Robert 2
Cecil 1
Elijah 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Gersham 1
Harold 1
Harrold 1
Horace 1
Isaac 1
Isaiah 1
Isiah 1
J.Wm. 1
Jno. 1
Jno.Wm. 1
Joe 1
Johnson 1
Jonas 1
Lewis 1
Luke 1
Mary 1
Mathew 1
Oliver 1
Saml. 1
Sidney 1
Stuart 1
Sylvester 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Shooter surname: questions and answers

How common was the Shooter surname in 1881?

In 1881, 443 people were recorded with the Shooter surname. That placed it at #7,395 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Shooter surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 852 in 2016. That gives Shooter a modern rank of #6,566.

What does the Shooter surname mean?

An occupational surname derived from someone who was an archer or marksman.

What does the Shooter map show?

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