Find out how popular the last name Fetcher is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Fetcher.

Fetcher, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Fetcher surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fetcher in America

Fetcher is the 139228th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fetcher surname appeared 120 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Fetcher.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fetcher to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Fetcher

The surname Fetcher has its origins in medieval England, arising in the late 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "fecc" or "fetche," meaning "to fetch" or "to bring." This name likely referred to a messenger or someone who was tasked with fetching or delivering items.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Fetcher can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which lists a John le Feccher residing in Oxfordshire. This spelling variation highlights the fluidity of surnames during this period, as they were often based on occupations or descriptive nicknames.

In the 14th century, the name appears in various records, such as the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in 1348, where a Robert Fetcher is mentioned. This document sheds light on the geographic distribution of the name, suggesting it was present in the northern counties of England.

The Fetcher surname can also be traced to place names, as was common practice during the Middle Ages. For instance, the village of Fetcham in Surrey may have contributed to the formation of the name, as evidenced by the appearance of John de Fecchham in the Subsidy Rolls of 1327.

One notable bearer of the Fetcher name was William Fetcher (1560-1616), a English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. His contemporaries included John Fetcher (c. 1570-1625), a lawyer and member of the Virginia Company, who played a role in the early colonization efforts in North America.

In the 17th century, the Fetcher name gained prominence in Scotland, with Sir Thomas Fetcher (1607-1688) serving as the Lord Provost of Edinburgh from 1676 to 1679. He was a prominent figure in the city's governance during a turbulent period of Scottish history.

Another noteworthy individual was John Fetcher (1713-1784), an English engraver and sculptor who gained recognition for his intricate work on seals and medals. His artistic achievements were celebrated during his lifetime and contributed to the cultural legacy of the Fetcher name.

Throughout the centuries, the Fetcher surname has undergone various spellings, including Fetcher, Fecher, Featcher, and Feccher, reflecting the evolution of language and regional variations. However, the core meaning and occupational roots of the name have remained intact, serving as a testament to its enduring legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fetcher

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Fetcher.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Fetcher was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Fetcher has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Fetcher was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Fetcher, please contact us.

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