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

Pilcher, 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 Pilcher surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pilcher in America

Pilcher is the 6329th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pilcher surname appeared 5,391 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Pilcher.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pilcher 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 Pilcher

The surname Pilcher is of English origin, deriving from the Old English words "pylcere" or "pilece," meaning a maker or seller of cloaks, coats, or other outer garments. This occupational surname emerged during the medieval period, when it was common practice for individuals to adopt surnames based on their trades or professions.

The name Pilcher can be traced back to the county of Somerset in South West England, where it was particularly prevalent in the 13th and 14th centuries. Early records mention individuals with variations of the name, such as Pylcher, Pilchour, and Pilcher, living in towns like Taunton and Yeovil.

One of the earliest documented references to the name Pilcher can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Somerset from 1327, which list a John le Pilchour among the taxpayers. This record suggests that the name was already established in the region by the 14th century.

In the 15th century, the Pilcher surname appeared in various historical records, including the Patent Rolls of 1459, which mention a William Pilcher from Dorset. Another notable individual was John Pilcher (c. 1440-1501), a prominent English jurist and Chief Justice of the Common Pleas during the reign of Henry VII.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Pilcher family dispersed across different parts of England, with branches establishing themselves in counties like Devon, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire. One prominent figure from this period was Roger Pilcher (1565-1623), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Cheriton, Hampshire.

As the name spread, it also became associated with certain place names. For instance, the hamlet of Pilcher's Hill in Dorset likely derived its name from the Pilcher family who resided there. Similarly, Pilcher's Gate in Nottinghamshire may have been named after a local landowner or resident with the surname.

Other notable individuals with the Pilcher surname include:

1. Thomas Pilcher (1621-1677), an English Puritan clergyman and author known for his work "A Modest Vindication of the Doctrine of Conditions."
2. Samuel Pilcher (1770-1838), an English Quaker minister and abolitionist who campaigned against slavery.
3. George Pilcher (1816-1873), a British civil engineer who worked on various railway projects in India.
4. Mary Pilcher (1836-1923), an American writer and poet from Indiana, known for her work "The Reformed Houskeeper."
5. William A. Pilcher (1866-1950), an American politician who served as a U.S. Representative from Washington.

While the Pilcher surname has its roots in medieval England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through British emigration and colonization. However, this detailed history focuses specifically on the English origins and early records of the Pilcher surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pilcher

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!