Arthur, William (1857) An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. New York: Sheldon, Blakeman. Public Domain.
DEXTER
There are approximately 4,600 people named Dexter in the UK. That makes it the 2,283rd most common surname overall. Out of every million people in the UK, approximately 73 are named Dexter.
Region of origin
British Isles
Country of origin
England
Language of origin
English
Religion of origin
Christian
Classification
English
Occupational Name
Related and similar surnames
DesterDecter
Desutter
Daxter
D'Exter
Dekster
Dekter
Deckter
Deckster
Deekster
Deakter
Daxtear
Daxtor
Deckstere
Dektor
Dektar
Dakter
Dackster
Dakters
Dackter
Decktar
Deaktor
Decktor
The Dexter surname in historical dictionaries
An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names (1857)
A contraction of De Exeter, from the city of Exeter, in Devonshire, England; anciently written Excester, from Exe, the name of the river on which it is situated, and cester, a camp or town, for the derivation of which see Chester.
Patronymica Britannica (1860)
DEXTER. Possibly from Lat. dexter, in the sense of lucky, fortunate — the iiiii\\Qi\s oi fbmter ; but more likely a contraction of De Exeter, from the chief town of Devonshire.
Lower, Mark A (1860) Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom. London: J.R. Smith. Public Domain.