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

Potters, 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 Potters surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Potters in America

Potters is the 83226th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Potters surname appeared 226 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Potters.

We can also compare 2010 data for Potters 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 Potters

The surname Potters is of English origin and can be traced back to the 14th century. The name derives from the Old English word "pottere," which referred to a person who made or sold pots or pottery. This occupational surname was common in regions where pottery production was a significant industry, such as Staffordshire and other areas of the Midlands.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Potters can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, where it is listed as "le Potter." This medieval document was a survey of landholders in England and Wales, providing valuable insight into the prevalence and distribution of surnames during that time.

In the 15th century, the name Potters appeared in various legal documents and records, including the Paston Letters, a collection of correspondence between members of the influential Paston family in Norfolk. One notable individual from this period was Richard Potters, a merchant from London who was active in the early 1400s.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname Potters. However, it does mention several places with names derived from pottery-related activities, such as "Potterspiry" in Northamptonshire and "Potterton" in Bedfordshire.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname Potters continued to be found across England, particularly in areas with a strong pottery tradition. One notable figure from this period was John Potters, a renowned potter from Burslem, Staffordshire, who lived from 1566 to 1644 and was widely recognized for his skill in producing salt-glazed stoneware.

In the 18th century, the Potters family of Staffordshire became prominent in the pottery industry. John Potters (1675-1751) and his son Thomas Potters (1718-1798) were influential potters who played a significant role in the development of English ceramics.

Another notable individual with the surname Potters was Francis Potters (1801-1876), a British artist and illustrator known for his detailed paintings of rural life and landscapes. He was born in Staffordshire and was a member of the Birmingham Society of Artists.

As the centuries progressed, the surname Potters continued to be found throughout England, with some families relocating to other parts of the British Isles and beyond. The name has remained associated with the pottery trade and has become a respected and enduring surname in the English-speaking world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Potters

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

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 Potters 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 Potters 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 Potters was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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