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

Tarter, 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 Tarter surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tarter in America

Tarter is the 9281st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tarter surname appeared 3,507 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 Tarter.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tarter 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 Tarter

The surname Tarter is believed to have originated in England, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "tært," which means "sour" or "tart," and was likely a descriptive nickname given to someone with a sour disposition or persona.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk, dated 1201, which mentions a Richard Tarter. This suggests that the name was already well-established in England by the early 13th century.

During the medieval era, the Tarter surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk in East Anglia. Records from the 14th century show the name spelled in various ways, such as Tartare, Tartere, and Tartour, reflecting the linguistic evolution and regional variations of the time.

In the late 16th century, a notable figure bearing the Tarter surname was John Tarter, a merchant and alderman of the City of London, who was born around 1550 and died in 1616. His legacy includes the establishment of a charitable trust that supported education and other philanthropic causes.

Another historical figure was Sir Thomas Tarter, a member of the English gentry who lived during the 17th century. He was born in 1620 and served as a magistrate and landowner in Lincolnshire, playing a role in local governance and affairs.

The Tarter name also has connections to certain place names in England. For instance, the village of Tarrant Gunville in Dorset was formerly known as Tarter Gundevile in the 13th century, suggesting a possible association between the surname and the locality.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, several Tarter families were prominent landowners and gentry in various counties across England, including Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Gloucestershire. Notable individuals from this period include Sir William Tarter (1672-1745), a wealthy merchant and member of Parliament for the city of Bristol.

As the Tarter surname spread throughout England over the centuries, it became associated with various professions and social standings, from merchants and landowners to artisans and tradesmen. While not as widespread as some other English surnames, the name has left its mark on the country's history and genealogical records.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tarter

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

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

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

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