NameCensus.

UK surname

Soutar

A Scottish surname derived from the occupation of a shoemaker or cobbler.

In the 1881 census there were 1,067 people recorded with the Soutar surname, ranking it #3,704 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,343, ranked #4,491, down from #3,704 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Forfar, Arbroath and St. Vigeans and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Letham and Glamis, Carnoustie East and Fintry.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Soutar is 1,348 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 25.9%.

1881 census count

1,067

Ranked #3,704

Modern count

1,343

2016, ranked #4,491

Peak year

2014

1,348 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Soutar had 1,067 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,704 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,343 in 2016, ranked #4,491.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,274 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Soutar surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Soutar surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Soutar 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 610 #4,225
1861 historical 614 #4,339
1881 historical 1,067 #3,704
1891 historical 1,194 #3,590
1901 historical 1,274 #3,896
1911 historical 94 #23,391
1997 modern 1,174 #4,807
1998 modern 1,244 #4,737
1999 modern 1,261 #4,723
2000 modern 1,263 #4,702
2001 modern 1,222 #4,733
2002 modern 1,242 #4,751
2003 modern 1,238 #4,683
2004 modern 1,238 #4,677
2005 modern 1,245 #4,614
2006 modern 1,243 #4,633
2007 modern 1,244 #4,676
2008 modern 1,257 #4,654
2009 modern 1,276 #4,694
2010 modern 1,316 #4,657
2011 modern 1,284 #4,700
2012 modern 1,305 #4,557
2013 modern 1,335 #4,545
2014 modern 1,348 #4,529
2015 modern 1,328 #4,548
2016 modern 1,343 #4,491

Geography

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Where Soutars are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Forfar, Arbroath and St. Vigeans, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Couper Angus. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Letham and Glamis, Carnoustie East, Fintry, Kirriemuir and Arbroath Landward. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Forfar Forfar
2 Arbroath and St. Vigeans Forfar
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Couper Angus Perth

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Letham and Glamis Angus
2 Carnoustie East Angus
3 Fintry Dundee City
4 Kirriemuir Angus
5 Arbroath Landward Angus

Forenames

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First names often paired with Soutar

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Soutar

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Soutar surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Soutar household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Soutar is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Soutar is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Soutar 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 Soutar is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Soutar

The surname Soutar originated in Scotland during the 12th century. It derived from the Scots word 'souter', meaning shoemaker or cobbler. This occupational surname was bestowed upon individuals whose trade involved making or repairing shoes and boots.

The earliest known record of the name appears in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in 1264, which mention a person named Gillemor le Souter. This suggests the surname was already established by the 13th century. Over time, various spellings emerged, such as Souter, Souttar, and Sowtar, reflecting regional dialects and scribal variations.

One of the earliest notable bearers of the surname was John Soutar, a Scottish clergyman and translator of the Bible into Scots. He was born around 1460 and is credited with producing the first printed edition of the Scots Confession of Faith in 1561.

In the 16th century, the name Soutar appeared in the Burgh Records of Aberdeen, Scotland. For instance, William Soutar was listed as a burgess of the city in 1552. This indicates that the surname was well-established in the northeastern region of Scotland during this period.

The Soutar surname also has ties to the village of Soutra in the Scottish Borders. This place name is believed to have derived from the word 'souter', suggesting a connection between the surname and the location where shoemakers or cobblers may have resided or worked.

Among notable individuals with the Soutar surname is William Soutar, a Scottish poet and diarist who lived from 1898 to 1943. His works, such as "Seeds in the Wind" and "Collected Poems," gained widespread recognition and helped preserve the Scots language and culture.

Another notable bearer of the surname was Robert Soutar, a Scottish artist born in 1905. He is renowned for his portraiture, landscapes, and still-life paintings, which capture the essence of Scottish life and scenery.

In the field of science, John Soutar (1891-1972) was a Scottish chemist who made significant contributions to the study of carbohydrates and their role in biological processes.

The Soutar surname has a rich history deeply rooted in Scotland's past, reflecting the occupational origins of shoemaking and the cultural significance of this trade in the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Soutar families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Soutar 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. Angus leads with 582 Soutars recorded in 1881 and an index of 60.36x.

County Total Index
Angus 582 60.36x
Perthshire 180 38.53x
Lanarkshire 47 1.40x
Midlothian 44 3.16x
Fife 41 6.65x
Aberdeenshire 31 3.22x
Middlesex 31 0.30x
Stirlingshire 25 6.51x
Kincardineshire 20 15.78x
Surrey 11 0.22x
Cambridgeshire 7 1.06x
Yorkshire 7 0.07x
Banffshire 6 2.78x
Renfrewshire 5 0.62x
Argyllshire 3 1.04x
Clackmannanshire 3 3.49x
Essex 3 0.15x
Morayshire 3 1.86x
Orkney 3 2.62x
Kent 2 0.06x
Kinross-shire 2 7.60x
Lancashire 2 0.02x
Sutherland 2 2.50x
Ayrshire 1 0.13x
Caithness 1 0.70x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.43x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.36x
East Lothian 1 0.73x
Norfolk 1 0.06x
West Lothian 1 0.64x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dundee in Angus leads with 166 Soutars recorded in 1881 and an index of 46.12x.

Place Total Index
Dundee 166 46.12x
Forfar 54 103.43x
Liff Benvie 54 36.89x
St Vigeans 38 73.01x
Carmyllie 36 875.91x
Coupar Angus 33 361.84x
Blairgowrie 32 173.16x
Govan 31 3.72x
Arbroath 24 75.12x
Montrose 22 37.65x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 21 3.74x
Perth East Church 20 45.41x
Monifieth 19 55.78x
Scone 17 204.82x
Mains 16 195.36x
Barry 15 129.65x
Kinnoull 15 122.15x
Perth West Church 14 63.15x
Fetteresso 13 65.46x
Kirkcaldy 13 42.54x
Brechin 12 31.67x
Caputh 12 163.27x
Inverkeillor 12 200.67x
Aberdeen Old Machar 10 4.97x
Abroath St Vigeans 10 252.53x
Alyth 10 79.55x
Perth Middle Church 10 56.92x
Stirling 10 20.66x
Airth 9 184.43x
Craig 9 96.67x
Kirriemuir 9 37.83x
Lambeth 9 0.99x
Monquhitter 9 90.18x
Rattray 9 82.80x
Tannadice 9 200.45x
Wemyss 9 34.52x
Bethnal Green London 7 1.55x
Dunfermline 7 7.39x
Dunnichen 7 137.80x
Glasgow 7 1.17x
Inverarity 7 225.81x
Sawston 7 110.06x
South Leith 7 4.46x
Airlie 6 194.17x
Chiswick 6 10.55x
Duddingston 6 21.44x
Falkirk 6 6.68x
Old Monkland 6 4.49x
Banff 5 26.67x
Chelsea London 5 1.59x
Hackney London 5 0.86x
Kilspindie 5 202.43x
Kinnaird 5 537.63x
Kirkden 5 82.92x
Little Dunkeld 5 63.05x
New Deer 5 28.65x
Panbride 5 99.60x
West Greenock 5 3.45x
Edinburgh Lady Yesters 4 41.41x
Edinburgh St Andrews 4 34.75x
Longforgan 4 60.51x
Nether Hallam 4 2.87x
Arbirlot 3 102.04x
Creich 3 217.39x
Errol 3 34.68x
Forres 3 17.65x
Kingoldrum 3 215.83x
Marykirk 3 57.36x
Muthill 3 49.18x
Newhills 3 15.20x
Sandwick 3 69.93x
Tillicoultry 3 15.69x
Whitechapel London 3 2.92x
Arngask 2 102.56x
Barking 2 3.33x
Biggar 2 26.28x
Cupar 2 7.46x
Golspie 2 36.04x
Kinnel 2 80.32x
Woolwich 2 1.52x

Top female names

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

Name Count
David 6
James 5
William 3
Charles 2
John 2
Samuel 2
Alexander 1
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Chas. 1
Fredk. 1
George 1
Robert 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Soutar surname: questions and answers

How common was the Soutar surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,067 people were recorded with the Soutar surname. That placed it at #3,704 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Soutar surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,343 in 2016. That gives Soutar a modern rank of #4,491.

What does the Soutar surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from the occupation of a shoemaker or cobbler.

What does the Soutar map show?

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