NameCensus.

UK surname

Uter

A Germanic occupational surname meaning "outer" or "external."

In the 1881 census there were 2 people recorded with the Uter surname, ranking it #33,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 104, ranked #30,317, up from #33,721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ipswich, Bath and North East Somerset and Southwark.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Uter is 104 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 5100.0%.

1881 census count

2

Ranked #33,721

Modern count

104

2016, ranked #30,317

Peak year

2016

104 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Uter had 2 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 104 in 2016, ranked #30,317.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 8 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Uter surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Uter surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Uter 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
1861 historical 3 #33,861
1881 historical 2 #33,721
1891 historical 3 #34,257
1901 historical 8 #33,289
1911 historical 5 #33,427
1997 modern 66 #31,038
1998 modern 72 #30,775
1999 modern 71 #31,036
2000 modern 80 #30,139
2001 modern 80 #29,945
2002 modern 76 #30,830
2003 modern 80 #30,425
2004 modern 91 #29,345
2005 modern 89 #29,683
2006 modern 89 #30,027
2007 modern 87 #30,666
2008 modern 88 #30,857
2009 modern 98 #29,906
2010 modern 103 #29,780
2011 modern 98 #30,384
2012 modern 89 #31,934
2013 modern 91 #32,020
2014 modern 95 #31,792
2015 modern 101 #30,816
2016 modern 104 #30,317

Geography

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Where Uters 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 Ipswich, Bath and North East Somerset, Southwark, Cardenden and Lambeth. 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 Ipswich 001 Ipswich
2 Bath and North East Somerset 012 Bath and North East Somerset
3 Southwark 024 Southwark
4 Cardenden Fife
5 Lambeth 028 Lambeth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Uter

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Uter

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Uter surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Uter 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Uter is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Uter 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

Uter falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Uter 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Uter

The surname UTER is of German origin, derived from the Middle Low German word "uter" meaning "udder" or "breast." It is believed to have originated as an occupational name for a cow or goat herder, or someone involved in the dairy industry.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname UTER can be traced back to the 14th century in various regions of Germany, including Bavaria and Saxony. In the town of Augsburg, a certain Hans Uter was mentioned in a document dated 1357, while a Johann Uter was listed as a resident of Leipzig in 1421.

UTER is also found in some medieval German literary works, such as the "Codex Manesse," a renowned collection of Middle High German lyric poetry from the 12th and 13th centuries. One of the poems is attributed to a poet named Uter von Rietenburg, suggesting that the name may have been associated with nobility or knighthood during that era.

In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the surname UTER was Johann Uter (1508-1583), a German theologian and reformer who was a close associate of Martin Luther and played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation.

Another historically significant individual with the surname UTER was Johann Uter von Braunau (1667-1735), a German jurist and author who served as a legal advisor to the Prince-Elector of Saxony and published several works on jurisprudence and legal theory.

The UTER surname also has some association with place names, particularly in the state of Bavaria. For instance, there is a small village called Uterhausen, which likely derived its name from an early settler or landowner with the surname UTER.

As the surname spread across Europe through migration and trade, it underwent various spelling variations, such as Utter, Utert, and Utters, particularly in regions like the Netherlands and England. In the 17th century, a Dutch artist named Johannes Uter (1639-1701) gained recognition for his landscape paintings and etchings.

Overall, the surname UTER has a rich history rooted in the German language and culture, with connections to occupations, literature, religion, law, and even place names throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Uter families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Uter 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. Cheshire leads with 2 Uters recorded in 1881 and an index of 46.95x.

County Total Index
Cheshire 2 46.95x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tranmere in Cheshire leads with 2 Uters recorded in 1881 and an index of 1250.00x.

Place Total Index
Tranmere 2 1250.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Caroline 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 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 Uter households.

Occupation Count
Shipwright 1

FAQ

Uter surname: questions and answers

How common was the Uter surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2 people were recorded with the Uter surname. That placed it at #33,721 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Uter surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 104 in 2016. That gives Uter a modern rank of #30,317.

What does the Uter surname mean?

A Germanic occupational surname meaning "outer" or "external."

What does the Uter map show?

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