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Peters History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Peters History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England-Alt
England
Germany

Early Origins of the Peters family

The surname Peters was first found in the Palatinate, where the name emerged in mediaeval times as one of the notable families of the region. From the 13th century the surname was identified with the great social and economic evolution which made this territory a landmark contributor to the development of the nation.

Early History of the Peters family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Peters research. Another 175 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1614, 1615, 1624, 1652, 1667, 1676, 1677, 1727, 1747, 1779, 1784, 1790, 1819, 1827, 1856, 1864, 1895 and 1918 are included under the topic Early Peters History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Peters Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Peter, Petter, Peeter, Peetter, Peater, Peatter, Peters, Petersen, Peer, Peers and many more.

Early Notables of the Peters family

Notables with the name Peters during this period were

Carl Friedrich Peters (1779-1827), was a German music publisher who began the famous "Peters Edition" of inexpensive classic scores. Luise Peters (1819-1895) published under the pseudonym Otto Stern...

Peters World Ranking

In the United States, the name Peters is the 197^th most popular surname with an estimated 129,324 people with that name. 1 However, in Canada, the name Peters is ranked the 100^th most popular surname with an estimated 27,705 people with that name. 2 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Peters is the 708^th popular surname with an estimated 61 people with that name. 3 France ranks Peters as 6,088^th with 1,000 - 1,500 people. 4 Australia ranks Peters as 174^th with 17,954 people. 5 New Zealand ranks Peters as 172^nd with 3,101 people. 6 The United Kingdom ranks Peters as 323^rd with 19,145 people. 7 Netherlands ranks Peters as 15^th with 33,006 people. 8 South Africa ranks Peters as 457^th with 15,524 people. 9

Peters migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Peters Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Miss Anne Pettit Peters who arrived in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship "Ambrose" as part of the Winthrop Fleet 10
Edmond Peters, who arrived in Virginia in 1654 11
Andrew Peters, who arrived in Virginia in 1664 11
Augustine Peters, who arrived in Maryland in 1668 11
Ann Peters, who landed in Maryland in 1679 11

Peters Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Frans Henrig Peters, who landed in New York in 1709 11
Charles Peters, who arrived in Virginia in 1718 11
David Peters, who settled in Georgia with his wife Eleanor and four children in 1733
Arnold Peters, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1772 11

Peters Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Christjan Heinrich Peters, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1806 11
Benjamin L Peters, aged 22, who arrived in New York in 1812 11
Ernst Heinr Peters, who arrived in Baltimore, Maryland in 1836 11
Cath Elis Peters, who landed in America in 1840 11
Anton Jos Peters, who landed in America in 1843 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Peters Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Mr. Samuel Peters, (b. 1843), aged 59, Cornish farmer, from Gunnislake, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Oceanic" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 30th January 1902 en route to Duluth, Minnesota, USA 12
Mr. Walter Peters, (b. 1853), aged 50, Cornish blacksmith travelling aboard the ship "New York" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 12th September 1903 en route to Los Angeles, California, USA 12
Mr. William Peters, (b. 1865), aged 38, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "Philadelphia" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 31st May 1903 en route to Leadville, Colorado, USA 12
Mr. William Peters, (b. 1885), aged 20, Cornish miner, from Camborne, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "St Louis" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 9th July 1905 en route to Painesdale, Michigan, USA 12
Mr. Samuel Peters, (b. 1865), aged 40, American quarryman returning from Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "St Paul" arriving at Ellis Island, New York in 1905 en route to East Bangor, Pennsylvania, USA 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Peters migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Peters Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. Samuel Peters U.E. (b. 1712) who arrived in New Brunswick c. 1783 was transported aboard the ship "Mercury" married with 1 child, he died in 1788 13
Mr. Thomas Peters U.E. (b. 1749) from Dutchess County, New York, USA who settled in Fredericton, New Brunswick c. 1784 married to Susannah having 6 children, he died in 1813 13
Mr. William Peters U.E. who settled in Parr Town, Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 he died in 1835 in Woodstock, New Brunswick 13
Mr. William Peters U.E. who settled in Kings County, New Brunswick c. 1784 he died in 1805 13
Mr. Andrew Peters U.E. who settled in St. Andrews, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1784 member of the Cape Ann Association 13
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Peters Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Mr. Philip Peters, aged 1 year & 6 months who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Araminta" departing from the port of Araminta, Liverpool but died on Grosse Isle in August 1847 14
Franz Peters, who arrived in Manitoba in 1875
Aaron Peters, who landed in Manitoba in 1875
Agatha Peters, who arrived in Manitoba in 1875
Claus Peters, who arrived in Manitoba in 1875
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Peters migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Peters Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Thomas Peters, British convict who was convicted in York, Yorkshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Calcutta" in February 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 15
Mr. George Peters, (Pearcey), British convict who was convicted in Kent, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Competitor"18th March 1823, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 16
Mr. Thomas Peters, English convict who was convicted in Suffolk, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Chapman" on 6th April 1824, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 17
Robert Peters, a chair-maker, who arrived in New South Wales, Australia sometime between 1825 and 1832
Mr. James Peters who was convicted in Kent, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Bussorah Merchant" on 24th March 1828, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 18
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Peters migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Peters Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

James Peters, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Alma" in 1857
Harriet Peters, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Alma" in 1857
Martha Peters, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Alma" in 1857
Hannah Peters, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Alma" in 1857
Mr. George Peters, (b. 1837), aged 21, British collar maker travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Indiana" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 28th November 1858 19
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Peters (post 1700) +

Jane Alice Peters (1908-1942), birth name of Carole Lombard, American actress and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Douglas J. J. Peters (1963-2023), American politician, Majority Leader of the Maryland Senate (2016-2019)
Eric Lingfeng Peters (b. 1997), Canadian recurve archer. He won gold at the 2019 Pan American Games, he won silver medal in 2023 World Archery Championships
Julie Anne Peters (1952-2023), American author of young adult fiction who published 20 works, mostly novels, geared toward children and adolescents
Gary Charles Peters (1937-2023), American Major League Baseball pitcher from Grove City, Pennsylvania who played on two major league teams for 14 seasons, from 1959 through 1972
Marybeth Peters (1939-2022), American attorney, 11th United States Register of Copyrights (1994-2010)
Carol Ann Peters Duncan (1932-2022), American gold and two-time bronze medalist figure skater who competed in ice dancing
Fred Peters (1923-2018), American animator and comics artist from Oklahoma, known for his work with Disney on numerous Pluto cartoons
Nick Anthony Peters (1939-2015), American baseball writer, known for his coverage of the San Francisco Giants, recipient of the J. G. Taylor Spink Award (2009)
Mitchell Peters (1935-2017), American principal timpanist and percussionist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra
... (Another 37 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Peters family +

Bismarck

Walter Peters (1919-1941), German Maschinenobergefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 20
Otto Peters (b. 1919), German Maschinenobergefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck (1941) during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he survived the sinking 20

HMAS Sydney II

Mr. Maxwell Wesley Peters (1920-1941), Australian Telegraphist from Mallala, South Australia, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 21

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. Henry Peters, British Electrical, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and died in the sinking 22

HMS Repulse

Mr. Alfred Peters, British Stoker 1st Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 23
Mr. Richard Edwin Peters, British Marine, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 23

HMS Royal Oak

George Peters (1922-1939), born in Sandown, Isle of Wight, England, British Boy 1st Class with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 24
Edward Robertson Peters (1907-1939), born in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, British Petty Officer Stoker with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 24

RMS Titanic

Mr. William Chapman Peters, aged 26, English Able Seaman from Woolston, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking escaping on life boat 9 25
Miss Catherine "Katie" Peters (d. 1912), aged 26, Irish Third Class passenger from Cahir, Tipperary who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 25

Senghenydd colliery

Mr. Charles Peters (b. 1891), Welsh coal miner from Cardiff, Wales who was working at the Senghenydd colliery when there was an explosion on the 14th October 1913; he died 26
Mr. John Lot Peters (b. 1886), Welsh coal miner from Caerphilly, Wales who was working at the Senghenydd colliery when there was an explosion on the 14th October 1913; he died 26

SS Atlantic

J. A. Peters, who was traveling aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, survived the sinking

USS Indianapolis

Earl Jack Peters, American crew member on board the ship "USS Indianapolis" when she was on a top secret trip for the first nuclear weapon, she was sunk by Japanese Navy on 30th July 1945, he was one of the many who were killed in the sinking due to exposure, dehydration, saltwater poisoning and shark attacks 27

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
"Most Common Last Names in Netherlands." Forebears, https://forebears.io/netherlands/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in South Africa." Forebears, https://forebears.io/south-africa/surnames
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's. Retrieved January 6th 2023 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 51)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/calcutta
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/competitor
Convict Records of Australia. Retreived 26th January 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/chapman
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bussorah-merchant
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details
HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
Universal Colliery Senghenydd 1913 disaster retrieved 21st September 2019, retrieved from http://www.welshcoalmines.co.uk/deathrolls/SenghenyddDead1913.htm
Final Crew List, retrieved 2021, October 30th Retrieved from https://www.ussindianapolis.com/final-crew