Hunter
An occupational surname for a hunter or huntsman, from Old English roots and later reinforced by Norman and Scottish usage.
The #160 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 1,901 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Hunter comes from the occupation of hunting, from Old English hunta, meaning a hunter or huntsman. It continued in Middle English in forms like hunt(e)r and related occupational forms such as 'the hunter of the wild boar.' The name is transparent in meaning: someone who hunted game, often as a professional or in service to a lord.
History
The surname is old in England and Scotland and appears early as an occupational byname. Lower notes that the Normans were especially associated with hunting and that the name was often thought to be chiefly of Norman origin in some families, while also acknowledging the Old English root. In Scotland, the office of king’s hunter was of some dignity, and some families later claimed hereditary connection with such service.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Some early records show the same idea expressed more specifically, such as 'Boarhunt' or 'king’s hunter,' making the surname’s occupational sense especially clear.
From the historical record
“and Huntemau is also found there. HUNTER. Obviously derived from the chase, in old times a necessary art, as well as a favourite di^■ersiou. The Normans were great preservers and mighty huuters ofgame, and though the name is A-Sax. (hunta) it is generally considered that the families bearing it are chiefly of…”
— Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United KingdomNotable people named Hunter
- Holly Hunter (b. 1958)
- Linda Hunt (b. 1945)
- Kim Hunter (1922–2002)
Sourced from Wikidata; linked to their Wikipedia page.