Surname Arter - Meaning and Origin

Arter: What does the surname Arter mean?

The surname Arter is generally of English origin, more specifically from Southern England. The name is derived from the Middle English personal name "Artere", a form of the ancient name "Arthur". It could mean "bear" or "rock" in Celtic, which reflects strength and endurance. This name would have been given to males in the society who were seen as strong or tenacious, much like the characteristics embodied in a bear. Alternatively, it could be derived from Old French "art" meaning craft or skill, given to someone who exhibited a high degree of aptitude in a certain field. Surnames during these periods were often used to identify individuals by their profession, personal attributes, or place of origin. Like many surnames, over the centuries the spelling of the name has changed so that today there are many variants including Art, Arte, Arter, Arthur, and others. Individuals with the surname Arter would have ancestral ties to these origins, implying strength, endurance, skill, or craftsmanship.

Arter: Where does the name Arter come from?

The surname Arter is of Anglo-Saxon origin, specifically derived from the Middle English personal name "Artere". It is a variant of the name Arthur, which became popular in England after the Norman Conquest in the 11th century. Over the years, the surname Arter has gone through many spelling variations including Artus, Arture, Arter, Artis and so on.

The name Arter was carried over to the British Isles and eventually made its way to the United States during the years of migration. In England, it became established in counties such as Norfolk, London, and Nottinghamshire. Today, the surname Arter can be found throughout the world, but it is most common in the United States, England, and Canada. However, in terms of pure density (the number of people with the surname compared to the total population), the Arter surname is most prevalent in Wales, according to forebears.io. It is also worth mentioning that the family crest and coat of arms have links to the English heritage of the Arter name.

Variations of the surname Arter

The surname Arter is of Anglo-Saxon origin, stemming from the personal name Arthur. The name Arthur is of ancient Celtic origin and it gained popularity in England after the Norman conquest. Variations of the surname Arter include Arthurs, Arthurson, Artr, Arture, Arterr, Artar, Artur, Arther, and Artor. Other versions might use an "s" at the end or change the letter "r" to "l", resulting in Artels or Artel.

The derivative Ardern, from the place-name meaning 'eagle valley', could be considered a name of the same origin. Another variation via this Celtic path is Archer, emerging from 'Arcator' which was the term for a bowmaker. While Archer is a distinct surname today, it could have been used interchangeably with Arter in the past.

However, it's important to note that surnames evolved over centuries and were influenced by many factors such as regional dialects, illiteracy and immigration, which means there can often be many variations even for a single name. Regional variants also exist, and it can be further diversified when the name moved across countries and languages.

Famous people with the name Arter

• Chris Arter: An English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Nottingham Forest.
• Harry Arter: An Irish professional footballer, a midfielder for English club Luton Town and the Republic of Ireland national team. He is also the brother-in-law of star footballer Scott Parker.
• Lewis Arter: An Egyptian-born American Levantine Arab businessman, and a philanthropist who was honored by the Ellis Island Medal of Honor for his significant contribution to the American society.
• Ginny Arter: Known for her work on the short film "The Night Shift Belongs to the Stars".
• Charles Arter: A late 19th and early 20th-century American landscape and genre painter.
• Jason Arter: A well-known Irish Greyhound trainer, notable for his success with his greyhound "Jaytee Hellcat".
• Leroy Arter: Former professional basketball player who had a brief career in the NBA in the 1980s.
• Paul Arter: An Australian artist, his work was exhibited in numerous prestigious galleries and museums.
• Raymond Arter: He was a New Zealand rugby union player.
• Steve Arter: Known for his work on "Prietene" and "Dark Revelations". Please note that this is not an exhaustive list and there might be other notable figures with the last name Arter.

Other surnames

Arters