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

Urch, 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 Urch surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Urch in America

Urch is the 79338th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Urch surname appeared 240 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 Urch.

We can also compare 2010 data for Urch 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 Urch

The surname URCH is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "yr(i)c," which means a cowherd or a keeper of cattle. This occupational surname was likely first adopted by individuals whose primary occupation involved tending to herds of cattle.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname URCH can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners and tenants commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "Ur(i)c" in various entries, suggesting its widespread usage during the 11th century.

In the 13th century, the surname URCH emerged in its modern spelling in various records and documents. One notable example is John Urch, a landowner mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1221. The surname was also associated with place names, such as Urchfont in Wiltshire, which was recorded as "Urchefunte" in the Domesday Book.

As the surname URCH spread across England, regional variations in spelling emerged, including Urche, Urgh, and Urch. These variations were likely influenced by local dialects and pronunciation variations.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname URCH. One example is Thomas Urch (1530-1596), an English composer and organist who served under Queen Elizabeth I. Another notable figure is John Urch (1720-1791), a renowned English clockmaker whose timepieces were highly sought after by the aristocracy.

In the 16th century, the surname URCH appears in the records of the Inquisition in Spain, suggesting that some individuals with this surname may have been caught up in the religious persecution of the time. One such individual was Diego Urch, who was tried by the Spanish Inquisition in 1558.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the surname URCH continued to be found in various records and documents across England. Notable individuals from this period include William Urch (1675-1737), a renowned mathematician and astronomer, and Elizabeth Urch (1705-1782), a prominent philanthropist known for her charitable works in London.

The surname URCH has a rich history deeply rooted in the English tradition, originating from an occupational word describing those who tended to cattle. Its presence in various historical records, place names, and the lives of notable individuals over the centuries attests to its longevity and significance within the English cultural landscape.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Urch

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

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

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

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