UK surname
A French occupational surname for a traverser or toll collector.
In the 1881 census there were 22 people recorded with the Traver surname, ranking it #30,464 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 7, ranked #37,967, down from #30,464 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Willesden, Benenden and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Traver is 109 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 68.2%.
1881 census count
22
Ranked #30,464
Modern count
7
2016, ranked #37,967
Peak year
1861
109 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Traver surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Traver surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 54 | #23,577 |
| 1861 | historical | 109 | #19,693 |
| 1881 | historical | 22 | #30,464 |
| 1891 | historical | 80 | #26,785 |
| 1901 | historical | 20 | #31,803 |
| 1911 | historical | 47 | #28,110 |
| 1997 | modern | 8 | #37,372 |
| 1998 | modern | 6 | #37,703 |
| 1999 | modern | 7 | #37,513 |
| 2000 | modern | 7 | #37,430 |
| 2001 | modern | 7 | #37,293 |
| 2002 | modern | 6 | #37,532 |
| 2003 | modern | 6 | #37,586 |
| 2004 | modern | 6 | #37,655 |
| 2005 | modern | 7 | #37,581 |
| 2006 | modern | 8 | #37,481 |
| 2007 | modern | 7 | #37,687 |
| 2008 | modern | 6 | #37,883 |
| 2009 | modern | 5 | #38,122 |
| 2010 | modern | 6 | #38,024 |
| 2011 | modern | 6 | #38,016 |
| 2012 | modern | 4 | #38,335 |
| 2013 | modern | 5 | #38,195 |
| 2014 | modern | 6 | #38,077 |
| 2015 | modern | 7 | #37,920 |
| 2016 | modern | 7 | #37,967 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Willesden, Benenden, Lambeth, St George the Martyr, St Andrew Holborn above the Bars, Furnival's Inn and St Bartholomew the Great. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Willesden | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| 2 | Benenden | Kent |
| 3 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 4 | St George the Martyr, St Andrew Holborn above the Bars, Furnival's Inn | London (Central Districts) |
| 5 | St Bartholomew the Great | London (Central Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Traver surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Traver, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Traver surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Traver household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Traver is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Traver is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Traver, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname TRAVER has its origins in France and can be traced back to the early 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "traveir," which means "to cross" or "to traverse." This suggests that the name was initially given to someone who lived near a crossing point or bridge.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the TRAVER name can be found in the Cartulaire de Marmoutier, a medieval cartulary from the Abbey of Marmoutier in Tours, France, dating back to the late 11th century. Here, the name appears as "Travarius," an early spelling variation.
In the 13th century, the name TRAVER began appearing in various English records, indicating that those bearing the surname had likely migrated from France to England during the Norman Conquest or shortly thereafter. One notable example is Robert le Traver, who is mentioned in the Curia Regis Rolls of Northamptonshire in 1221.
The TRAVER name is also closely linked to several place names in England, such as Trevorrow in Cornwall and Trevera in Shropshire. These place names likely originated from the same root as the surname, further solidifying its connection to the concept of traversing or crossing.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the TRAVER surname. One of the earliest was John Traver, a prominent English landowner born around 1480 in Tilbury, Essex. Another was Robert Traver, a 16th-century English lawyer and Member of Parliament, born in 1523 in Byfleet, Surrey.
In the 17th century, John Traver (1601-1670) was a prominent Puritan minister and author in Massachusetts Bay Colony. Later, François Traver (1713-1788) was a French military officer who served in the American Revolutionary War, fighting alongside the Continental Army.
Another notable figure was Zachariah Traver (1801-1880), an American politician and lawyer from New York who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1849 to 1851.
The TRAVER surname has a rich history spanning centuries and multiple countries, with its origins deeply rooted in the concept of traversing or crossing, reflecting the migratory patterns and experiences of those who bore this name throughout the ages.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Traver surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 10 Travers recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.66x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 10 | 4.66x |
| Staffordshire | 4 | 5.53x |
| Kent | 3 | 4.10x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.79x |
| Cornwall | 1 | 4.12x |
| Sussex | 1 | 2.77x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.47x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Andrew Holborn in Middlesex leads with 6 Travers recorded in 1881 and an index of 821.92x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| St Andrew Holborn | 6 | 821.92x |
| Newcastle Under Lyme | 4 | 312.50x |
| Hackney London | 3 | 24.96x |
| Minster In Sheppey | 3 | 247.93x |
| Warrington | 2 | 66.23x |
| Brighton | 1 | 13.72x |
| East Looe | 1 | 1000.00x |
| Thurlstone | 1 | 476.19x |
| Westminster St | 1 | 126.58x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Traver surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Traver surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Traver households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 4 |
| Able Seaman R N | 1 |
| Bricklayer | 1 |
| Domestic Servant (Out Of Employment) | 1 |
| Laborer Bricklayers Unemployed | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Licensed Victuallar | 1 |
| Milliner | 1 |
| Nurse Dom | 1 |
| Sempstress | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 22 people were recorded with the Traver surname. That placed it at #30,464 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 7 in 2016. That gives Traver a modern rank of #37,967.
A French occupational surname for a traverser or toll collector.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Traver bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.