Boucher
An occupational surname referring to a butcher or someone who slaughters animals for meat.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 23,307 Americans carry the last name Boucher. That puts it at #1,791 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 6.80 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 14,706 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Boucher surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
23K
1 in 14,706
Census rank
#1,791
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
6.8
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
20K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 20,050 bearers of the surname Boucher in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 6.80 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 1791st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Boucher, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.2%. The next largest groups are Black (2.0%) and Hispanic (1.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Boucher
The surname Boucher originates from the French language and traces its roots back to medieval France. It is an occupational surname derived from the Old French word "bouchier," which means "butcher" or "slaughterer." This name was given to individuals whose profession involved working with meat, either as butchers or those engaged in slaughtering animals for their meat.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Boucher can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of England and parts of Wales commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The Domesday Book mentions several individuals with the surname Boucher, indicating the presence of French-speaking people in England shortly after the Norman Conquest.
During the Middle Ages, the Boucher family spread across various regions of France, including Normandy, Brittany, and Ile-de-France. The name also gained prominence in other parts of Europe, particularly in England, where French-speaking Normans settled after the conquest.
One notable bearer of the surname Boucher was Lancelot Boucher, a French theologian and philosopher who lived from around 1516 to 1593. He was a prominent figure in the Catholic Reformation and played a significant role in the Council of Trent.
Another influential individual with the Boucher surname was François Boucher, a French painter who lived from 1703 to 1770. He was a renowned Rococo artist known for his idyllic and decorative paintings, particularly those depicting pastoral scenes and mythological subjects.
In the realm of literature, Pierre Boucher, a French-Canadian explorer and author, left a lasting legacy. Born in 1622, he is remembered for his writings about the early settlement of New France, including the book "Histoire véritable et naturelle des moeurs et productions du pays de la Nouvelle-France vulgairement dite le Canada."
Moving to the 19th century, Jonathan Boucher, an English-American clergyman and writer, made significant contributions to the field of education. Born in 1738, he established several schools in Maryland and Virginia and wrote extensively on educational topics.
Lastly, the Boucher family name has been associated with various place names throughout history. For instance, the village of Boucher in Normandy, France, likely derived its name from the presence of individuals with the surname Boucher in the area.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Boucher
Among Census respondents with the surname Boucher, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.2%. The next largest groups are Black (2.0%) and Hispanic (1.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Boucher bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Boucher surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White93.2%
- Black or African American2.0%
- Hispanic or Latino1.9%
- Two or more races1.6%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.7%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.6%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Boucher surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,791 | #1,791 | 0.0% |
| Count | 20,050 | 20,050 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 6.80 | 6.80 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Boucher bearers went from 20,050 to 20,050 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #1,791 to #1,791.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Boucher
FAQ
Boucher surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Boucher?
The surname Boucher holds position #1,791 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 23,307 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 6.80 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Boucher surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Boucher, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.2%. The next largest groups are Black (2.0%) and Hispanic (1.9%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.