Recorded as Salt, Salter, Sulter, Saltman and Salterman, this is an English surname of two possible origins. The first is occupational and describes an extractor or seller of salt, the derivation being from the Olde English pre 7th century world "sealt" meaning salt. The surname from this source is first recorded towards the middle of the 13th century (see below), and Thomas le Selter appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1296, whilst John Saltman is recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Suffolk in 1327.
The second distinct possibility is that the name derives from the pre 7th century Olde French words "saltere or sautere", meaning a psalter. This was a stringed instrument like a harp, which was very popular in the medieval period. In the Assize Court rolls of Northumberland, we have the recording of a musician called William le Salterer, meaning one who played the psalter, whilst another recording is that of William le Sautreour. He was minstrel to Queen Margaret, the wife of King Edward 1st (1272 - 1307) in the Calendar of Letter Books for the City of London, dated 1304. An interesting namebearer was one James Salter who flourished around the year 1723. He was a proprietor of "Don Saltero's Coffee-house", Chelsea, where he gathered a large collection of curiosities. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robert le Salter. This was dated 1243, in the Assize Court Rolls of Somerset, during the reign of King Henry 111rd of England, 1216 - 1272. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.
Research into the possible origins of sulter leads us to learn more about those who bear this surname. The origin, the coat of arms or the different heraldic shields, and the bibliography in which the surname sulter is mentioned are part of this exciting investigation. Adhering to what we know about the way surnames originated, it is possible to offer a realistic explanation of the origins of sulter.
There is a considerable probability that sulter has crossed the borders of its place of origin to establish itself, to a greater or lesser extent, in other parts of the world. With all the information we have today, it can be said that the countries where sulter is most abundant are the following. The list of countries with a higher presence of people with the surname sulter provides us with a perspective on the history of the surname, beyond its origins, focusing on its migrations.
The deeds, the way of life, the places they lived, the family relationships they had, the jobs they held by those who were the first to be named sulter are found in every look back in the history of this lineage. For those like you, who are interested in the history hidden behind the surname sulter, it is essential to find all kinds of information, both direct and tangential, that helps to construct a solid narrative of how the birth and expansion of sulter developed. In the following lines, you will find everything we have been able to gather about the surname sulter.
It is common for genealogy and surname enthusiasts to provide us with information of special value, so the data we offer about the origins of sulter could be modified. We keep our website updated through our own research and also thanks to contributions from people like you, after verification; so if you have information about sulter and send it to us, we will update it on this website.
We assume that there have been significant contributions to humanity made by individuals with the surname sulter, even though not all have been documented to our present day. Sadly, not all the contributions of those who bore the surname sulter were recorded by the chroniclers of the time. If you or someone you know bears the surname sulter, you could potentially build illustrious lineages through your efforts and virtues. It is our desire to highlight in this section those individuals with the surname sulter who, for various reasons, have left their mark on the course of history.
The bibliography collects information related to the surname sulter, which allows us to learn more about its meaning. The origin, history, coat of arms or different coats of arms, and the heraldry of sulter are recorded in a wide variety of sources and documents that are essential to know for better compilation. Accessing the archives of the town or towns where your ancestors were born and lived is, of course, a good way to trace the origins of sulter.
These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of sulter, and at the same time, of surnames in general.