Surname Putter - Meaning and Origin
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Putter: What does the surname Putter mean?
The last name Putter has Anglo-Saxon origins and is derived from the Middle English word "putt," which means "to thrust." It is believed that the name originated as an occupational name for someone who thrusts or pushes, such as a porter. The name likely first originated in a small town, such as Putteridge in Hampshire, from which people may have taken the name.
The surname Putter is also used as a nickname for someone who is exceptionally good at golf, due to the similarity between "putter" and the golf club of the same name.
The Putter surname is quite common in the United Kingdom and France, and the United States is home to many immigrants with the surname. There is also a large number of people with the surname Putter in Australia.
Overall, the last name Putter is believed to have Anglo-Saxon origins and likely signifies someone who was a porter. It is also used as a nickname for someone who is particularly good at golf. Putter is a common surname found in many countries.
Order DNA origin analysisPutter: Where does the name Putter come from?
The surname Putter is found primarily in countries with substantial German, Dutch, and Scandinavian populations, such as Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Denmark. It is also seen in many countries around the world where there had been emigration to from these countries due to religious, economic, or political reasons.
In recent statistics from major countries, the Putter surname is most common in Germany, where it is the 11,642nd most common surname. In the United States, it ranks at Lancaster, Pennsylvania in the early 1700s with the arrival of Dutch-Germans fleeing religious persecution, and is the 36,078th most common surname. It is also one of the rarer surnames in the United Kingdom, where it is the 11,418th most common.
In Australia, the surname is much rarer, ranking 114,019th most common surname.
Though related to other common surnames like Putnam, Putnamen, and Putman, Putter is not common in English-speaking countries. Its main focus is in Germany, the Netherlands, and Scandinavian countries.
Variations of the surname Putter
The surname Putter is derived from the Dutch and German word ‘poter’, which originated in the Middle Ages and is thought to derive from ‘potten’ meaning ‘cook-pot’ or ‘cook’. It has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin, including Potter, Putterer, Putterman, Putterill, Puttmark, Puttmiller and Putzger.
Potter is thought to be the most common of the variants, stemming from the occupation of pot making, which was widespread in medieval Europe. It is also the first recorded example of the surname, stated in early English records but found in many countries including France, Germany, The Netherlands and Belgium.
The most common spelling of Putter is two t's, although it can also be found with one t and at times double r's. This is particularly evident in Germany, where the spelling putrer is also seen. Putterer is probably the most distinct variant, and is still frequently used in Germany today.
Putterill is an English variation, predominantly found in Northern England and Scotland. It may have been adopted by those who wanted an anglicised version of Putter, or alternatively may have derived from the Old English word 'Potterell' meaning ‘little potter'.
Puttmark is another German surname derived from ‘poter’. It may have been used for people with physical characteristics associated with pot making, such as stooped posture. The surname Puttmiller is predominantly found in the United States and is a combination of Putter and the occupational term ‘miller’. Putzger is another German variant, and is thought to be derived from an old term ‘putten’ meaning ‘to push’.
Famous people with the name Putter
- Harry Putter: British actor from the 1980s
- Ghost Putter: Canadian rock musician
- William L. Putter: American inventor
- Frank Herbert Putter: American Civil War surgeon
- John Putter: British artist and portrait painter
- Mrs. Putter: fictional character from the British sitcom “One Foot in the Grave”
- Lars Putter: German born American cinematographer
- Sandy Putter: German Olympian skier
- Olaf Putter: Dutch sculptor
- Pat Putter: American professional golfer