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

Goucher, 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 Goucher surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Goucher in America

Goucher is the 18511th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Goucher surname appeared 1,491 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Goucher.

We can also compare 2010 data for Goucher 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 Goucher

The surname Goucher is of English origin and can be traced back to the early medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "gocer," which referred to a tax collector or rent gatherer. The earliest recorded spelling of the name appears to be Godcher in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk in 1166.

The Goucher name was primarily found in the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk in eastern England during the Middle Ages. It is thought to have originated as an occupational surname, given to individuals who worked as tax collectors or rent gatherers for landowners or the local nobility.

In the 13th century, there are references to a Richard Gouchere in the Feet of Fines records for Suffolk in 1248. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also mention a John Gouchere from Norfolk. These early records provide evidence of the name's existence and its association with the region of East Anglia.

By the 14th century, the surname had evolved to its more modern spelling of "Goucher." In the Poll Tax Returns of 1381, there are entries for a John Gouchere and a William Gouchere, both from Norfolk. This document, which recorded taxpayers during the reign of Richard II, is a valuable source for tracing the name's development and distribution.

One notable individual with the Goucher surname was Thomas Goucher (c. 1590-1669), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of Swinstead in Lincolnshire. He published several religious works during his lifetime, including "The Principles of the Christian Religion Explained" in 1660.

In the 17th century, the Goucher name also appeared in records from the American colonies. One of the earliest instances is that of John Goucher, who settled in Virginia in 1635. His descendants helped establish the Goucher family in the United States.

Another prominent figure was John Goucher (1835-1892), an American businessman and philanthropist from Pennsylvania. He co-founded the Goucher College in Baltimore, Maryland, which was named in his honor and remains a prestigious liberal arts institution to this day.

Throughout history, the Goucher surname has been associated with various occupations and professions, including clergy, authors, businessmen, and educators. While its origins can be traced back to medieval England, the name has since spread to other parts of the world, reflecting the migration patterns and cultural influences that have shaped its legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Goucher

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

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 Goucher 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 Goucher 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 Goucher was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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