Hatter
An occupational surname for a maker or seller of hats.
The #8,714 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 82,004 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Hatter is an occupational surname from Middle English, referring to a person who made or sold hats. The name is linked to earlier forms such as Le Hatter and Le Hattere, and ultimately to Old French words for a hat or head covering. In older surname lists, it is treated alongside related forms like Chapeler, another occupational name for a hat-maker.
History
The surname appears in English records as an ordinary craft name, much like other medieval occupational surnames. It remained relatively uncommon compared with more widespread names such as Smith or Baker, but it is still found in Britain and in English-speaking countries overseas. Some historical references also show confusion with other names that look similar, but the core surname Hatter is straightforwardly occupational.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Medieval English records sometimes paired hatters with cappers, because both trades dealt with headwear.
From the historical record
“HATTEN. A mis-spelling of Hatton. HATTER. The occupation. Le Hatter and Le Hattere. H.R. HATTERSLEY. A village and town- ship in Cheshire. HATTON. Several parishes, &c., bear this name in different counties. The HAW”
— Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom