UK surname
A surname derived from the German word for weather, possibly referring to someone with a stormy temperament.
In the 1881 census there were 22 people recorded with the Wetter surname, ranking it #30,464 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 41, ranked #35,388, down from #30,464 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Hendon, Ebony and Battersea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wetter is 119 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 86.4%.
1881 census count
22
Ranked #30,464
Modern count
41
2016, ranked #35,388
Peak year
1861
119 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Wetter surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Wetter 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 | 46 | #24,985 |
| 1861 | historical | 119 | #18,393 |
| 1881 | historical | 22 | #30,464 |
| 1891 | historical | 48 | #30,447 |
| 1901 | historical | 32 | #30,501 |
| 1911 | historical | 64 | #26,435 |
| 1997 | modern | 48 | #32,878 |
| 1998 | modern | 46 | #33,286 |
| 1999 | modern | 53 | #32,746 |
| 2000 | modern | 44 | #33,602 |
| 2001 | modern | 45 | #33,401 |
| 2002 | modern | 45 | #33,712 |
| 2003 | modern | 53 | #33,076 |
| 2004 | modern | 45 | #33,957 |
| 2005 | modern | 52 | #33,619 |
| 2006 | modern | 45 | #34,491 |
| 2007 | modern | 41 | #34,974 |
| 2008 | modern | 39 | #35,191 |
| 2009 | modern | 37 | #35,434 |
| 2010 | modern | 42 | #35,294 |
| 2011 | modern | 44 | #35,161 |
| 2012 | modern | 42 | #35,269 |
| 2013 | modern | 44 | #35,222 |
| 2014 | modern | 44 | #35,241 |
| 2015 | modern | 41 | #35,383 |
| 2016 | modern | 41 | #35,388 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Hendon, Ebony, Battersea, Wigan and Lambeth. 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 | Hendon | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| 2 | Ebony | Kent |
| 3 | Battersea | London (South Districts) |
| 4 | Wigan | Lancashire |
| 5 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Wetter 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 Wetter, 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 Wetter surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Wetter 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, Wetter 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 Wetter is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Wetter, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Wetter is believed to have originated in Germany, with the earliest known records dating back to the 13th century. It is thought to be derived from the Middle High German word "weter," which means "weather." This suggests that the name may have been an occupational surname referring to someone involved in weather-related activities or perhaps a nickname for someone who had an affinity for outdoor pursuits.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Codex Balduini, a medieval German manuscript from the 13th century, which mentions a person named "Wetter van Brabant." This suggests that the name was present in the region of Brabant, which is now part of the Netherlands and Belgium.
The Wetter surname also appears in various historical records from Germany, such as the Württembergisches Urkundenbuch, a collection of documents from the region of Württemberg, dating back to the 14th century. These records mention individuals with the surname Wetter, indicating its presence in the area during that time period.
In the 16th century, a notable figure with the surname Wetter was Johann Wetter, a German humanist scholar and theologian born in 1499. He played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation and was known for his writings on theology and education.
Another historical figure was Johann Wetter von der Wetter, a German aristocrat and military leader who lived in the 17th century. He served as a general in the Thirty Years' War and was known for his military exploits during that conflict.
In the 18th century, Johann Friedrich Wetter was a prominent German jurist and legal scholar. He served as a judge and professor of law at the University of Göttingen and published several influential works on legal theory and practice.
The surname Wetter also has connections to various place names in Germany, such as Wetter (Hessen), a town in the state of Hesse, and Wetter (Ruhr), a city in the Ruhr region of North Rhine-Westphalia. These place names may have influenced the development and spread of the surname in those areas.
It is worth noting that the name Wetter has also been documented in other European countries, such as the Netherlands and Switzerland, indicating its presence outside of Germany as well. However, the earliest known records and the majority of historical references seem to point to a German origin for this surname.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wetter 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 6 Wetters recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.80x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 6 | 2.80x |
| Cornwall | 4 | 16.47x |
| Monmouthshire | 3 | 19.35x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.79x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 2.11x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 2.28x |
| Kent | 1 | 1.37x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 1.44x |
| Oxfordshire | 1 | 7.55x |
| Wiltshire | 1 | 5.27x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.47x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Fulham London in Middlesex leads with 5 Wetters recorded in 1881 and an index of 160.77x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Fulham London | 5 | 160.77x |
| Bettws | 3 | 30000.00x |
| St Clement | 3 | 1200.00x |
| Everton | 2 | 24.66x |
| Barony | 1 | 5.70x |
| Boyton | 1 | 5000.00x |
| Hadlow | 1 | 555.56x |
| Headington | 1 | 476.19x |
| Maker | 1 | 454.55x |
| Marske In Guisbrough | 1 | 263.16x |
| Portsmouth | 1 | 99.01x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 8.73x |
| Timperley | 1 | 625.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Wetter 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 Wetter 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 Wetter households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Miller | 2 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Carpenter & Joiner | 1 |
| Carpenters Apprentice | 1 |
| Embroider | 1 |
| Grocers Porter | 1 |
| Gunner | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Iron Miner | 1 |
| Lather | 1 |
| Leading Seaman | 1 |
| Matron Of Tr School Service | 1 |
| Paper Stamper (Mfr) | 1 |
| Scholar | 1 |
| School Misstres | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 22 people were recorded with the Wetter surname. That placed it at #30,464 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 41 in 2016. That gives Wetter a modern rank of #35,388.
A surname derived from the German word for weather, possibly referring to someone with a stormy temperament.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Wetter 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.