felter

Felter is a surname of English origin that derives from an occupational name for a felter, a craftsman who makes felt. The name follows a common pattern in English surnames, where a trade noun is turned into a family name with the agent suffix -er. The occupational sense is tied to felting, a process that joins fibers, typically wool or fur, into a dense fabric through moisture, heat, and agitation.

Historically, felters worked in textile centers and sometimes in hatmaking, padding for armor, and other crafts that relied on felt’s durability and insulating properties. The felting process can be performed by hand or with early machinery, with techniques varying by region and era.

In modern usage, Felter persists as a surname in English-speaking countries and appears in genealogical records, census lists, and archival material. The common noun felter is rarely used outside historical or industrial contexts, but the term remains part of the broader history of textiles and crafts. Geographic distribution of the name reflects patterns of migration and settlement associated with textile trades.

Notable variants and related terms include felt and felting, as well as discussions of occupational surnames in onomastic studies. The word Felter also appears in genealogies and historical texts as a marker of ancestry connected to the felt-making craft.