Peters (surname)
Peters is a patronymic surname of Low German Dutch, and English origin. It can also be an English translation of Gaelic Mac Pheadair or an Americanized form of cognate surnames like Peeters or Pieters.
Geographical distribution
As of 2014, 34.4% of all known bearers of the surname Peters were residents of the United States, 23.6% of Germany, 6.4% of the Netherlands, 5.4% of Canada, 5.2% of Nigeria, 4.8% of England, 3.9% of South Africa, 3.1% of Australia, 1.2% of Togo, 1.1% of Sierra Leone and 1.0% of Belgium .In Germany, the frequency of the surname was higher than national average in the following states:
- 1. Schleswig-Holstein
- 2. Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- 3. Hamburg
- 4. Lower Saxony
- 5. North Rhine-Westphalia
- 6. Bremen
- 1. Gelderland
- 2. Limburg
- 3. Bonaire
- 4. North Brabant
People
Academics
- Achim Peters, German obesity specialist
- Anne Peters, German-Swiss legal scholar
- Arno Peters, German filmmaker & historian. Peters map projection.
- Bernard Peters, German nuclear physicist
- Brett Peters, American industrial engineer and college dean
- C. J. Peters, American virologists and tropical physician
- Christian August Friedrich Peters, German astronomer
- Christian Heinrich Friedrich Peters, German-born American astronomer
- David Peters, American physician and healthcare academic
- Dennis G. Peters, American analytical chemist
- E. L. Peters, British social anthropologist
- , German prehistorian
- Edward Peters , American historian of medieval Europe
- Francis Edward Peters, American scholar on Middle Eastern religions
- Frank Peters , Canadian university president
- George Henry Peters, American astronomer
- James A. Peters, American herpetologist
- James L. Peters, American ornithologist
- Jan Peters , German computer scientist
- Jan Peters, British engineer
- Jan-Michael Peters, German cell and molecular biologist
- John Durham Peters, communications professor
- John F. Peters, American electrical engineer and inventor
- Keith Peters , Welsh physician and academic
- Klaus Peters, German mathematician and publisher
- Kurt Peters, Austrian chemist
- Mary Peters Fieser, née Mary Peters, American chemist
- Michael Peters , Canadian psychologist
- Michael Adrian Peters, New Zealand education academic
- Norbert Peters , Austrian-German chemical engineer
- Norbert Peters , German Catholic biblical scholar
- Otto Peters, German education academic
- Pam Peters, Australian linguist
- Paul Peters , American academic publisher
- Paul Evan Peters, American librarian
- Peter J. Peters, Dutch cellular immunologist
- Raymond Peters, British polymer chemist
- Reinhard Peters, German operatic conductor, violinist and academic teacher
- Richard Stanley Peters, British philosopher
- Robert Henry Peters, Canadian ecologist and limnologist
- Rudolph Peters, British biochemist
- Rudolph F. Peters, Dutch scholar of Islam
- Steve Peters , English sports psychiatrist
- Stormy Peters, American information technologist
- Thomas Minott Peters, American lawyer, Alabama Chief Justice, and botanist
- Tim Peters, American software developer
- Vera Peters, Canadian oncologist and clinical investigator
- Wallace Peters, British entomologist and parasitologist
- Wilhelm Peters, German explorer and naturalist
- William John Peters, American explorer and geologist
Arts
Musical
- Ben Peters, American country music songwriter
- Bernadette Peters, American actress and singer
- Brian Peters, English folk singer and multi-instrumentalist
- Caleigh Peters, American musician, daughter of Jon Peters
- Carl Friedrich Peters, German music publisher
- Ciska Peters, Dutch pop singer
- Clarence Peters, Nigerian music video director, filmmaker and cinematographer
- Claudette Peters, Antiguan soca singer-songwriter
- Crispian St. Peters, English pop singer-songwriter
- Cyndee Peters, American-Swedish gospel singer and author
- Dan Peters, American rock drummer
- Dave Peters, American heavy metal musician
- Duane Peters, skateboarder and punk singer/songwriter
- Edith Peters, American singer and film actress
- Eric Peters , American musician
- Finn Peters, British flautist and saxophonist
- Gretchen Peters, American country singer
- Grice Peters, English art rock musician
- Ingrid Peters, German singer
- Ivana Peters, Serbian pop rock musician
- JJ Peters, Australian rock musician
- Jane Peters, Australian classical violinist
- Jerry Peters, American funk and soul musician
- Johanna Peters, Scottish mezzo-soprano
- Jonathan Peters, American DJ and record producer
- Lennie Peters, British singer from Peters and Lee
- Linda Peters, English folk rock singer a.k.a. Linda Thompson
- Mark Peters , English musician, songwriter and producer
- Mary Peters , British hymn writer
- Mike Peters , Canadian punk drummer
- Mike Peters , Welsh singer and songwriter of "The Alarm"
- Mitchell Peters, American percussionist and composer
- Moriah Peters, American Christian singer and songwriter
- Norbert Walter Peters, German composer
- Randolph Peters, Canadian composer
- Red Peters, American musician and comedian, pseudonym of Douglas Stevens
- Roberta Peters, American coloratura soprano
- Ryan Peters, Canadian singer-songwriter
- Ryan Michael Peters, American rapper known as "Spose"
- Scott Peters, Canadian folk rock musician
- Shina Peters, Nigerian musician
- Suresh Peters, Indian music director and playback rapper/singer
- Vanessa Peters, American folk rock singer-songwriter
- Wilfred Peters, Belizean accordionist and band leader
Theatrical
- Anton Peters, Belgian actor and film director
- Arnold Peters, British actor
- Audrey Peters, American soap opera actress
- Bernadette Peters, American actress and singer
- Brock Peters, American actor
- Caroline Peters, German actress
- Cece Peters, Australian television actress
- Christel Peters, German stage and television actress
- Clarke Peters, pseudonym of American actor Peter Clarke
- Dennis Alaba Peters, Gambian actor
- Edith Peters, American singer and film actress
- Emma Peters, Swedish actress
- Evan Peters, American film actor
- Frederick Peters , American film actor
- Gerald Peters, British television actor in the US
- Gordon Peters, British television actor
- House Peters Jr., American character actor
- House Peters Sr., British-born American silent film actor
- Ina Peters, Austrian stage and film actress
- Jane Alice Peters, American film actress with the stage name Carole Lombard
- Jean Peters, American actress
- Jon Peters, American film producer
- Karl-Heinz Peters, German film actor
- Lauri Peters, American actress
- Luan Peters, English actress and singer
- Lyn Peters, Argentine-born British-American model, actress and caterer
- , Dutch film director, producer and screenwriter
- Michael Peters, American choreographer
- Molly Peters, British actress
- Pauline Peters, Welsh film actress
- Petra Peters, German stage and film actress
- Rick Peters, American actor
- Robert O. Peters, Nigerian film producer and director
- Russell Peters, Canadian comedian
- Sabine Peters, German film actress
- Susan Peters, American actress
- Susan Peters , Nigerian film actress
- Vicki Peters, American model and actress
- Wendi Peters, English stage and television actress
- Werner Peters, German film actor
- William Theodore Peters, American poet and actor
- Willy Peters, Swedish film actor and director
Visual
- Alan Peters, British furniture maker
- Anna Peters, German flower and landscape painter, daughter of Pieter Francis Peters
- Christa Peters, German fashion photographer
- Clarissa Peters Russell, American miniaturist
- Curtis Arnoux Peters, Jr., American cartoonist known as "Curtis Arno"
- Eric Peters , German painter
- Eugène Peters, Dutch painter, graphic artist and sculptor
- Frazier Forman Peters, American builder and architect
- Fred Peters , American animator and comics artist
- Giovanni Peters, Italianate name of Flemish painter Jan Peeters
- Greg Peters, American editorial cartoonist
- Hans Peters, English art director
- Ivo Peters, English photographer of steam railways
- Joe Peters, American glass artist
- Johann Anton de Peters, German painter and etcher
- Lilo Peters, North German painter and sculptor
- Michael Peters , British graphic designer
- Mike Peters , American cartoonist
- Nelle Peters, American architect
- Pieter Francis Peters, Dutch-born German landscape painter and art dealer
- Pietronella Peters, German portrait and genre painter, daughter of Pieter F. Peters
- Robert L. Peters, Canadian graphics designer and industrial designer
- Sandra Peters, German contemporary artist
- Sara Peters Grozelier, American miniaturist
- Shani Peters, American artist
- Wilhelm Peters, Norwegian painter
- William Peters , British painter
- William Wesley Peters, American architect
Business
- Benedict Peters, Nigerian billionaire
- Bob Peters, Australian businessman and horse breeder
- Edward C. Peters, American real estate developer in Atlanta, son of Richard Peters
- George Peters, Governor of the Bank of England, 1785–1787
- Hans-Walter Peters, German banker
- Henry Peters, British banker and Member of Parliament
- Leone J. Peters, American businessman and racehorse breeder
- Lovett Peters, American oil and gas entrepreneur known for the Peters Foundation
- Ralph Peters , American railroad executive
- Richard Peters , American railroad man, cofounder of Atlanta City
- Richard Peters , American civil engineer and railroad executive, son of the above
- Russ Peters, British ferry businessman
- Tom Peters, American business consultant and writer
Law
- Aulana L. Peters, American lawyer
- Charles Jeffery Peters, New Brunswick lawyer, judge and politician
- Curtis Arnoux Peters, American New York Supreme Court Justice
- Edward N. Peters, American canon lawyer
- Ellen Ash Peters, German-born American lawyer and judge
- Elliot R. Peters, American trial attorney
- F. Whitten Peters, American lawyer, U.S. Secretary of the Air Force 1997–2001
- Frederick Peters, Canadian lawyer, Premier of Prince Edward Island 1891–97
- John A. Peters, American judge and US representative from Maine
- John A. Peters, American judge and US representative from Maine
- John M. Peters, American lawyer and legislator
- Karen K. Peters, American jurist
- Karl Peters , German expert in criminal law
- Marybeth Peters, American jurist and copyrights expert
- Nigel Peters, English judge
- Raymond E. Peters, American Supreme Court of California justice
- Richard Peters, Jr., Pennsylvania jurist and Continental Congressman
- Richard Peters , American jurist and Supreme Court official, son of the above
- Thomas Minott Peters, American lawyer, Alabama Chief Justice, and botanist
- William Peters , American lawyer and judge from Philadelphia
Military and police
- Alexander Peters, United States Navy sailor
- Arthur Peters , British Naval Secretary 1941–42
- Frederick Thornton Peters, Canadian Captain in the Royal Navy
- George Peters , Australian flying ace in World War I
- George J. Peters, American Medal of Honor recipient
- J. Greg Peters, Canadian Mounted Police Superintendent
- John Peters , English pilot of the Royal Air Force
- Kurd Peters, German World War II pilot
- Lawrence D. Peters, United States Marine sergeant
- Ralph Peters, American U.S. Army officer and military writer
- Robert Peters , British Royal Air Force officer
- Yakov Peters, Latvian Communist revolutionary and leader of the Soviet secret police
Politics
- Andrew James Peters, Mayor of Boston
- Annie Peters, South African anti-apartheid activist
- Arnold Peters, Canadian politician
- Arthur Peters, Canadian politician, Premier of Prince Edward Island
- Arthur Peters , British Liberal Party politician
- Augustus W. Peters, Canadian-born New York City politician
- Bobby Peters, American mayor and judge
- Carl Peters, German colonial ruler, explorer, politician and author
- David Peters , American politician
- Deb Peters, American politician
- Dipuo Peters, South African Premier of the Northern Cape, Minister of Energy and Minister of Transport
- Douglas Peters, Canadian banker and politician
- Douglas J. J. Peters, American politician
- Ellen Dolly Peters, Montserratian teacher and trade unionist
- F. Whitten Peters, American lawyer, U.S. Secretary of the Air Force 1997–2001
- Fred Peters, Dutch-born American politician
- Frederick Peters, Canadian lawyer, Premier of Prince Edward Island 1891–97
- Gary Peters, American politician and businessman
- George Silas Peters, American mayor of Columbus, Ohio, 1881–1882
- Harry Peters, New Brunswick merchant and politician
- Henry Peters , New South Wales politician
- Henry M. Peters, American politician
- Ian Peters, New Zealand politician
- Jan Peters , one name of Latvian Communist revolutionary Jēkabs Peterss
- Jeremy W. Peters, American journalist and politics reporter
- Jesse Peters, American politician
- Jim Peters , New Zealand politician
- John A. Peters, American judge and US representative from Maine
- John A. Peters, American judge and US representative from Maine
- John E. Peters, businessman and politician in Newfoundland
- John M. Peters, American lawyer and legislator
- John Samuel Peters, American politician and governor of Connecticut
- Joshua Peters, American politician
- Kathleen Peters, American politician
- , Dutch minister of Kingdom Relations 1951–52
- Louanner Peters, American politician
- Maria Liberia Peters, Prime Minister of the Netherlands Antilles 1984–86
- Mariko Peters, Dutch politician
- Mary Ann Peters, American diplomat; CEO of the Carter Center
- Mary E. Peters, American politician; US Secretary of Transportation 2006–09
- Mason S. Peters, American politician, U.S. Representative from Kansas
- Nellie Peters Black, American women's rights activist
- Rebecca Peters, Australian gun control activist
- Richard Peters, Jr., Pennsylvania jurist and Continental Congressman
- Robert Peters , American politician in Illinois
- Rudi Peters, Canadian politician
- Ryan Peters , American politician in New Jersey
- Samuel R. Peters, American politician, U.S. congressman from Kansas
- Scott Peters , American politician, U.S. congressman from San Diego
- Sidney Peters, English Liberal Party politician
- Steve Peters , Canadian politician
- Steve Peters , Canadian politician
- Susan Peters, Californian politician
- Ted Peters , Australian Labor Party politician
- Thomas Peters , Nigerian-born African-American founding father of Sierra Leone
- William Peters , Australian politician
- William Peters , British diplomat and founder of Jubilee 2000
- William H. Peters, Wisconsin legislator
- William Thompson Peters, American politician
- Winston Peters, New Zealand politician and leader of the New Zealand First Party
- Winston "Gypsy" Peters, Trinidad and Tobago calypsonian and politician
- Yakov Peters, Latvian Communist revolutionary and leader of the Soviet secret police
Radio and television
- Andi Peters, British television presenter
- Butz Peters, German television presenter
- Dave Peters, Flemish radio presenter
- John Peters , British radio presenter
- Susan Peters , American news anchor
- Sylvia Peters, English television continuity announcer and presenter
Religion
- Arthur Peters , Canadian Anglican bishop
- Christopher Peters, Anglican Church leader in Ireland
- George N. H. Peters, American Lutheran minister
- Hugh Peters, English Puritan minister and propagandist for Oliver Cromwell
- Humphrey Peters, Pakistani Anglican bishop
- John Punnett Peters, American Episcopal clergyman
- , German Catholic auxiliary bishop
- Karl E. Peters, American theologist and religious naturalist
- Madison Clinton Peters, American clergyman
- Richard Peters , English-born Pennsylvania colonial Anglican clergyman
- Samuel Peters, Connecticut Anglican clergyman
- Ted Peters , American Lutheran theologian
Sports
- Akeira Peters, Grenadian cricketer
- Alec Peters, American basketball player
- Alex Peters, English road cyclist
- Alexander Peters , Belizean footballer
- Anderson Peters, Grenadian javelin thrower
- Andrew Peters Canadian ice hockey player
- Ann-Louise Peters, Danish darts player
- Annette Peters, American long-distance runner
- Anthony Peters, American soccer player
- Anthony Peters, American racewalker
- Artuur Peters, Belgian canoeist
- Ayodele Peters, Nigerian boxer
- Bart Peters, Dutch rower
- Bas Peters, Dutch mountain biker
- Beate Peters, West German javelin thrower
- Bert Peters, Australian rules footballer
- Bill Peters , Australian footballer
- Bill Peters , Canadian ice hockey player and coach
- Bob Peters, Canadian ice hockey coach
- Brandon Peters, American football quarterback
- Brian Peters , American football linebacker
- Carl-Ludwig Peters, German field hockey player
- Carol Ann Peters, American ice dancer
- Cas Peters, Dutch football winger
- Chris Peters, American baseball pitcher
- Clara Peters, Irish figure skater
- Connor Peters, English-Antiguan footballer
- Corey Peters, American football defensive tackle
- Corey Peters , New Zealand alpine skier
- Corinne Peters, Canadian curler
- Daley Peters, Canadian curler
- Dan Peters , American basketball coach
- Darren Peters, Australian Paralympic Committee official
- Dean Peters, American wrestler known as "Brady Boone" or "Battle Kat"
- Devereaux Peters, American basketball player
- Dietmar Peters, German ice hockey player
- Dillon Peters, American baseball pitcher
- Dimitri Peters, Russian-born German judoka
- Dominic Peters, English rugby player
- Don Peters, American gymnastics coach
- Dwight Peters, Guyanese football midfielder
- Elisabeth Peters, Canadian curler
- Emmitt Peters, American dog sled racer
- Eric Peters , Scottish rugby player
- Erich Peters, Swedish gymnast
- F. H. Peters, American college football coach
- Floyd Peters, American football defensive tackle
- Frank Peters , English footballer
- Frank Peters , American ice hockey player
- Frosty Peters, American football player
- Gail Peters, American swimmer
- Garry Peters, Canadian ice hockey player and coach
- Garry Peters , Australian rules footballer
- Garry Peters , American player of Canadian football
- Gary Peters , American baseball player
- Gary Peters , English footballer and manager
- Geoff Peters, British sports commentator and broadcaster
- George Peters , Australian footballer
- Gerard Peters, Dutch track and road cyclist
- Hank Peters, American baseball executive
- Hanns Peters, German rower
- Heinrich Peters, German Olympic sailor
- Herman Peters, Australian rugby player
- Hilda Peters, New Zealand rugby player
- Jack Peters, English footballer
- Jacob Peters , British swimmer
- Jaime Peters, Canadian soccer player
- Jaison Peters, Montserratian cricketer
- James Peters , English rugby player
- Jan Peters , Dutch international football midfielder
- , Dutch football forward
- Jason Peters, American football player
- Jelani Peters, Trinidadian footballer
- Jim Peters , English long-distance runner
- Jimmy Peters, Jr., Canadian ice hockey player
- Jimmy Peters, Sr., Canadian ice hockey player
- Joanne Peters, Australian soccer player
- John Peters , American baseball player
- John Peters , American baseball player
- Jon Peters , American baseball pitcher
- Jordens Peters, Dutch football defender
- Josef Peters , German Formula One driver
- Josh Peters, Spanish rugby player
- Justin Peters, Canadian ice hockey goaltender
- Kari Peters, Luxembourgish cross-country skier
- Kasey Peters, American football player
- Keith Peters , English football defender
- Keith Peters , Papua New Guinean rugby player
- Ken Peters, American baseball player and school superintendent
- Kenroy Peters, St Vincent cricketer
- Kerstin Peters, German rower
- Laine Peters, Canadian curler
- Laurie Peters, Australian rules footballer
- Leonard Peters, Samoan American football safety and rugby player
- Lexi Peters, American ice hockey player
- Liam Peters, South African cricketer
- Lisa Peters, Welsh curler
- Luisa Peters, Cook Islands weightlifter
- Lyle Peters, South African footballer
- Marcus Peters, American football cornerback
- Marjorie Peters, American baseball player
- Mark Peters, Welsh football defender
- Mark Peters, English football forward
- Mark Peters, Australian baseball player and sports executive
- Martin Peters, English footballer
- Marty Peters, American football player and coach
- Mary Peters , British athlete
- Maureen Peters , New Zealand cricketer
- Maurice Peters, American jockey
- Maxwell Peters, Antigua and Barbuda athlete
- Mickey Peters, American football wide receiver
- Mitchell Peters , Virgin Islander sprinter
- Nans Peters, French road cyclist
- Nicholas Peters, English cricketer
- Nyanforth Peters, Liberian footballer
- Omere Larry Peters, Nigerian footballer
- Orlando Peters, Antiguan cricketer
- Otha Peters, American football linebacker
- Patrick Peters, German football defender
- Paw Peters, Danish handballer
- Peter Peters, Australian rugby player
- Peter Peters , German journalist and football official
- Piet Peters, Dutch road cyclist
- Ray Peters, American baseball player
- René Peters, Luxembourgish footballer
- Richard Peters , English cricketer
- Richard Peters , American college football coach
- Ricky Peters, American baseball player
- Robbie Peters, English footballer
- Robert Peters , Antiguan cyclist
- Rodrigo Peters Marques, Brazilian football goalkeeper nicknamed "Café"
- Roger Peters, English football winger
- Rotimi Peters, Nigerian sprinter
- Rube Peters, American baseball pitcher
- Rusty Peters, American baseball player
- Ryan Peters , English footballer
- Scott Peters , American football offensive lineman
- Seaver Peters, American ice hockey player
- Shanaka Peters, Sri Lankan weightlifter
- Shannon Peters, Australian tennis player
- Sherwin Peters, Leeward Islands cricketer
- Sonja Peters, Dutch wheelchair tennis player
- Steffen Peters, German-born American equestrian
- Stephen Peters, English cricketer
- Stephen Peters , Grenadian footballer
- Steve Peters , American baseball pitcher
- Steve Peters , Canadian ice hockey forward
- Thoralf Peters, German rower
- Timothy Peters, American racing driver
- Tina Peters, German field hockey player
- Tony Peters, American football safety
- Trevor Peters, British Virgin Islands footballer
- Ulrich Peters, West German slalom canoeist
- Ulrich Peters , German basketball player
- Vic Peters, Canadian curler
- Violet Peters, Indian sprinter
- Violetta Peters, German-born, Austrian slalom canoeist
- Vivian Peters, Nigerian shot putter
- Volney Peters, American football defensive tackle
- W. S. Peters, African-American baseball player, manager, and owner
- Warren Peters, Canadian hockey player
- Wayne Peters, Australian rules footballer
- Willem Peters, Dutch triple jump athlete
- William Peters , Colombian Olympic shooter
- Willie Peters, Australian rugby player
- Wolfgang Peters, German football winger
- Wolfgang Peters , West German slalom canoeist
- Nick Peters, American baseball writer
Writers
- A. D. Peters, British literary agent
- Carl Peters, German colonial ruler, explorer, politician and author
- Cash Peters, British travel writer
- Charles Peters, American journalist, editor, and author
- Christoph Peters, German novelist
- Edgar E. Peters, asset manager and writer
- Elizabeth Peters, pseudonym of American author Barbara Mertz
- Ellis Peters, pseudonym of English author Edith Pargeter
- Eugenia Peters, English letter writer and publisher
- Frank Peters Jr., American journalist
- Gretchen Peters, American journalist and organized crime expert
- Joan Peters, American journalist
- John Peters , American chess player and newspaper columnist
- Julie Anne Peters, American children's writer
- Lenrie Peters, Gambian surgeon, novelist, poet and educationist
- Louise Otto-Peters, German suffragist and writer
- Lulu Hunt Peters, American physician, dietitian and author
- Margot Peters, American novelist and biographer
- Maureen Peters , Welsh historical novelist
- Nancy Peters, American author and publisher
- Nonja Peters, Dutch-born Australian author
- Paula Peters, Native American journalist
- Petresia Peters, American author and editor; pen name of Julia Carter Aldrich
- Phillis Wheatley Peters, African-American poet
- Robert Peters, American poet
- Roy Peters, pseudonym of English western writer Arthur Nickson
- Scott Peters, Canadian television director and screenwriter
- William Peters , American journalist and documentary filmmaker
Other
- Amina Lahbabi-Peters, Moroccan interpreter and translator
- Carl Peters, German colonial ruler, explorer, politician and author
- David Peters , American poker player
- Demi-Leigh Peters, South African model and Miss Universe 2017
- Erik Peters, Canadian civil servant
- Frederick Emerson Peters, American fraudster
- Hans Peters, Dutch game show contestant
- J. Peters, pseudonym of Hungarian-born Soviet spy master Sándor Goldberger
- Karl Peters, German traveller in East Africa Carl Peters
- Lana Peters, adopted name of Stalin's youngest child, who defected to the United States
- Mary Peters, Native American woman and ferry operator in Oregon
- Paul Douglas Peters, person convicted after 2011 Australian bomb hoax
- Rachel Peters, Filipino-British model and beauty queen
- Rebecca Todd Peters, American feminist and Christian social ethicist
- Steve Peters , American game designer
- Susie Peters, American preservationist and Indian Agency matron
- Thomas Peters , Dutchman, possibly first recorded person over 110 years old
- Thomas Kimmwood Peters, American cinema pioneer, photographer, archivist
- Tim A. Peters, American humanitarian aid worker