Explore the Family Name Setter
The meaning of Setter
1. English: occupational name for a stone- or bricklayer, from Middle English setter(e) ‘workman who lays stones, bricks, or tiles in building’ (an agent derivative of setten ‘to set’). 2. English: occupational name from an agent derivative of Middle English setten ‘to place (decoration on a garment or metal surface)’, which in at least some cases denoted an embroiderer. In medieval London and probably in other major ecclesiastical centers, setter(e) denoted a maker of opus anglicanum, a kind of luxurious embroidery in which precious stones and silver and gold threads were ‘set’ or sewn onto ceremonial clothing. 3. Scottish: perhaps a variant of Seatter, a habitational name probably from Seatter in Stromness (Orkney), but perhaps also from any of various other Orcadian places called Seatter or Setter. These names are from Old Norse setr ‘seat, residence, farm dwelling’, or sætr ‘mountain pasture’. 4. German: unexplained. 5. Norwegian: variant of Sether.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Setter in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Setter has seen a decrease in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked at 24,224 but by 2010 it had fallen to 28,967, marking a decline of 19.58%. The count of individuals with this surname also decreased from 970 in 2000 to 820 in 2010, reflecting a drop of 15.46%. Consequently, the proportion of people named Setter per 100k decreased by 22.22% over this period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #24,224 | #28,967 | -19.58% |
| Count | 970 | 820 | -15.46% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.36 | 0.28 | -22.22% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Setter
In terms of ethnic identity, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals some shifts for those bearing the Setter surname. The percentage of Setters identifying as white remained largely stable, only decreasing slightly from 95.98% in 2000 to 95.49% in 2010. Interestingly, there was no recorded Asian/Pacific Islander or Black ethnicity within the Setter surname group in 2010, despite both groups being represented in 2000. The representation of those identifying as two or more races increased by 25.71%, while the biggest change was seen among those identifying as Hispanic, which more than doubled from 0.93% in 2000 to 1.95% in 2010. The percentage of American Indian and Alaskan Native remained constant at 0.00% throughout this period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 95.98% | 95.49% | -0.51% |
| Two or More Races | 1.75% | 2.2% | 25.71% |
| Hispanic | 0.93% | 1.95% | 109.68% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.52% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0.82% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |