Find out how popular the last name Arter is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Arter.

Arter, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Arter surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Arter in America

Arter is the 15090th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Arter surname appeared 1,955 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Arter.

We can also compare 2010 data for Arter to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Arter

The surname Arter has its origins in England and dates back to the medieval period, around the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "artor," which means a ploughman or a farmer. This suggests that the earliest bearers of this name were likely involved in agricultural activities or lived in areas with a significant farming community.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Arter surname can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where it appears as "Artour." This spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time, influenced by local dialects and pronunciation.

During the 14th century, the name appeared in various records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where it was spelled as "Artur." This indicates that the surname had spread to different regions of England by that time.

In the 15th century, the surname Arter was documented in the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk from 1459, where it was recorded as "Artyr." This variation suggests the influence of regional accents and dialects on the spelling of the name.

One notable individual with the surname Arter was William Arter, a prominent merchant and landowner who lived in the late 16th century. He was born in 1551 and played a significant role in the development of trade and commerce in his local community.

Another historical figure bearing the Arter surname was John Arter, a skilled craftsman and wood carver who lived in the 17th century. He was born in 1623 and is renowned for his intricate woodwork, which can still be admired in various churches and buildings across England.

In the 18th century, the Arter surname continued to be found in various records, including the parish registers of Gloucestershire. One notable individual from this period was Thomas Arter, a respected scholar and teacher who lived from 1712 to 1795.

The 19th century saw the rise of Charles Arter, a prominent industrialist born in 1821. He played a pivotal role in the development of the textile industry in his region and was known for his innovative manufacturing techniques.

Lastly, a notable figure in the 20th century was Elizabeth Arter, a pioneering educator born in 1902. She dedicated her life to improving educational opportunities for underprivileged children and made significant contributions to the field of education.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Arter

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Arter.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Arter was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Arter has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Arter was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Arter, please contact us.

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