This interesting name is well recorded but not until the end of the 18th Century. The reason is, that despite its "English" appearance, the name is probably of French Huguenot origins, where it derives from the surnames Lautour, Lortier, Lortio or Latore. However, it is probable that both the French and English are developed forms of the old German "Lauter", a form of occupational nickname for one of good faith, an unsullied person, and possibly a lay preacher. The name recordings include the following examples: Jacques Lortier, a witness at La Patente Huguenot (French) church on April 30th 1704, whilst Robert Larter is recorded at St. Martins in the Field, Westminster on May 21st 1792 when he married Mary Young. He is recorded again on February 21st 1796 when his son, also called Robert was christened at the same place. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John Latore, which was dated March 30th 1680, a witness at the church of st. Martins in the Field, Westminster, during the reign of King Charles 11, known as "The Merry Monarch", 1660 - 1685. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.