This is an occupational name which describes one who works with young horses or cattle, in effect a trainer of working animals. Found variously as Statter, Stouther, Stathor etc., the derivation is from the Old English "Stott" meaning a horse or young steer, plus "er" the suffix of Anglo-Saxon origins implying a worker. The name is essentially regarded as medieval Northern English where most modern nameholders are found. The name recordings include Thomas Stater of Clerkenwell on October 10th 1577, Isabella Statter of St. Martins-in-the-Field, Westminster on March 18th 1665 and Edward Statter, christened at Bolton le Sands, Lancashire on December 1st 1694. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robert Stater, which was dated 1250, in the Charters of the Hospital of Soltre, during the reign of King Henry 111, known as "The Frenchman", 1216 - 1272. 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.