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Potter Family History

Potter Surname Meaning

English and Dutch; North German (Pötter): occupational name for a maker of drinking and storage vessels from an agent derivative of Middle English Middle Low German pot. In the Middle Ages the term covered workers in metal as well as earthenware and clay.

In some cases also an Americanized form (translation into English) of Croatian, Serbian, and Slovenian Lončar ‘potter’ (see Loncar) and probably also of cognates from some other languages.

For example, Czech Hrnčíř (see Hrncir) also reflects the potter occupation.

The term emphasizes the artisan's role in creating essential items for everyday life.

Historically, the profession of potter has been crucial in various cultures and continues to hold significance today.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Potter family from?

You can see how Potter families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Potter family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Potter families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 2,486 Potter families living in London. This was about 15% of all the recorded Potter's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Potter families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Potter surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Potter ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Potter. 7% of Potter men worked as a General Labourer and 66% of Potter women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Potter were Gardener and Private Means.

View Census Data for Potter | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    7%
  • Builders Labourer
    4%
  • Bricklayer
    3%
  • Gardener
    2%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    66%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Private Means
    2%

What Potter family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 759,000 census records available for the last name Potter. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Potter census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Potter

Passenger Lists

There are 146,000 immigration records available for the last name Potter. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Potter immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 112,000 military records available for the last name Potter. For the veterans among your Potter ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Potter military records

You've only scratched the surface of Potter family history

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What is the average Potter lifespan?

Between 1941 and 2004, in the United States, Potter life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Potter in 1941 was 42, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Potter

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Potter ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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