Souter Family Crest, Coat of Arms and Name History

Souter Origin:

England

Origins of Souter:

This unique and interesting name is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is a professional surname for a shoe producer or a bootmaker. The name acquires from the Old English pre 7th Century word ‘sutere,’ from the Latin ‘sutor,’ which means shoemaker, a transmitted of ‘suere,’ which means to sew. There are a remarkable number of alternative forms of the new surname, appeared as Soutar, Souter, Souttar, Soutter, Sowter, Sueter, Suter, Sutor, Sewter, and Sutters, the next being the only surname form of the name, which means ‘son of the sutor.’ The advancement of the surname contains as John le Sutere (1273, Cambridgeshire), William le Soutare and Roger Southern (1327, Sussex), and John Sowter (1379, Yorkshire). The old Winchester Guild Rolls list ‘everych sowtere that maketh shon (shoes) of newe lether’. One Gregory Souter named at St. Martin in the Fields, London in December 1615.

Variations:

More common variations are: Soutter, Suter, Soutar, Sowter, Sutter, Souttar.

Scotland:

The surname Souter first appeared in Angus, part of the Tayside area of northeastern Scotland, and present day Council Area of Angus, previously known as Forfar or Forfarshire, where they held a family seat from old times, where Colin, son of Angus Souter, held estates in 1264.

England:

The very first recorded spelling of the family was shown to be that of Nicholas le Soutere, dated about 1263, in the “Middle English Occupational Surnames.” It was during the time of King Henry III who was known to be the “The Frenchman,” dated 1216 – 1272. The origin of surnames during this period became a necessity with the introduction of personal taxation. It came to be known as Poll Tax in England. Surnames all over the country began to develop, with unique and shocking spelling variations of the original one.

Ireland:

Many of the people with surname Souter had moved to Ireland during the 17th century.

United States of America:

Individuals with the surname Souter landed in the United States in two different centuries respectively in the 18th, and 19th. Some of the people with the name Souter who arrived in the United States in the 18th century included Hans Jakob Souter, who landed in America in 1731. Hans Martin Souter, Anna Margaretha Souter at the age of 3, Hans Henry Souter at the age of 7 and Maria Margaretha Souter at the age of 6, all arrived in Pennsylvania in the same year 1733.

The following century saw more Souter surnames arrive. Some of the people with the name Souter who arrived in the United States in the 19th century included John Souter, who landed in New York in 1832. William Souter, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) Division, Pennsylvania in 1879. Rengenlann Souter, who arrived in Arkansas in 1888.

Australia:

Some of the individuals with the surname Souter who landed in Australia in the 19th century included William Souter arrived in Holdfast Bay, Australia aboard the ship “John Renwick.” Joseph Souter arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship “Macedon.” C harles Souter at the age of 26, arrived in South Australia in 1857 aboard the ship “Henry Moore.”

New-Zealand:

Some of the population with the surname Souter who arrived in New Zealand in the 19th century included Charles Souter landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840. Charles Souter at the age of 44, arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship “Lord William Bentinck” in 1841. Elizabeth Souter arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship “Lord William Bentinck” in 1841. Betsy Souter arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship “Lord William Bentinck” in 1841. Ann Souter at the age of 17, also arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship “Lord William Bentinck” in the same year 1841.

Here is the population distribution of the last name Souter: England 1,877; United Stata 1,573; Australia 1,038; South Africa 840; Scotland 781; Canada 535; New Zealand 161; France 135; Chile 72; Switzerland 63.

Notable People:

Alexander Souter was a Scottish biblical teacher.

Brian Souter was a Scottish businessman.

Camille Souter was an Irish artist.

David Souter was an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.

David Henry Souter was an Australian artist and writer.

Blazons & Genealogy Notes

Az. an escutcheon ar. an orle of eight crosses crosslet fitchee of the last. Crest—On a mount vert a leopard sejant ppr. ducally gorged or.