Larter

The surname Larter is believed to have originated in England, possibly as early as the 12th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "laerd," which means "learning" or "instruction." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who was a teacher or scholar.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Larter can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1230, where a person named Robert Larter is mentioned. The Pipe Rolls were financial records kept by the English Exchequer during the Middle Ages.

In the 13th century, the name Larter appeared in various forms, such as Lardner, Lardenor, and Lardener, reflecting the evolution of spelling patterns over time. These variations may have been influenced by the Old French word "larder," which means "pantry" or "larder," suggesting a potential connection to someone who worked in a pantry or managed food supplies.

During the 14th century, the name Larter was recorded in several historical documents, including the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where a John Larter was listed as a taxpayer. The Subsidy Rolls were tax records compiled by the English government.

One notable figure with the surname Larter was John Larter, a prominent merchant and wool trader in London during the late 15th century. He was involved in the export of English wool to the Netherlands and other parts of Europe.

In the 16th century, the name Larter appeared in various parish records and legal documents across different counties in England, such as Essex, Suffolk, and Hertfordshire. This suggests that the name had spread across various regions of the country.

Another notable individual with the surname Larter was William Larter, an English clergyman who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He served as the Rector of Sutton Mandeville in Wiltshire from 1599 until his death in 1631.

During the 17th century, the name Larter was found in various birth, marriage, and death records in England, indicating its continued presence throughout the country.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Larter in North America can be traced back to the 17th century, when John Larter, born in England in 1643, immigrated to Massachusetts Bay Colony in the 1670s.

In the 18th century, the surname Larter appeared in various colonial records in British North America, particularly in New England and the Mid-Atlantic regions, suggesting that some individuals with this surname had made the journey across the Atlantic.