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

Wilcher, 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 Wilcher surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wilcher in America

Wilcher is the 8148th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wilcher surname appeared 4,069 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 Wilcher.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wilcher 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 Wilcher

The surname Wilcher originates from England, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "wilcor," meaning "wanderer" or "stranger." This suggests that the name was initially used as a descriptive term for someone who had traveled from another region or country.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Wilcher can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry mentions a landowner named Wilcherus, indicating the presence of the name in Norman England.

During the 13th century, the name appeared in various historical records with slight variations in spelling, such as Wilcher, Wilchyr, and Wylcher. These variations reflect the inconsistencies in written language during that time period.

The surname Wilcher has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Sir John Wilcher, a prominent landowner and knight who lived in the late 13th century. His descendants continued to hold significant estates in the counties of Oxfordshire and Berkshire for several generations.

Another notable figure was William Wilcher, a merchant and alderman in the City of London during the late 15th century. He played a crucial role in establishing trade relationships with the Hanseatic League, a powerful economic alliance of merchant guilds and market towns in Northern Europe.

In the 16th century, the Wilcher family gained prominence in the county of Somerset, where they owned substantial landholdings. One member of this branch, Thomas Wilcher (1525-1592), was a respected lawyer and served as a Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

The 17th century saw the emergence of Richard Wilcher (1610-1678), a renowned clergyman and author. He published several works on theology and served as the Vicar of Walthamstow in Essex, where he is buried in the parish church.

During the 18th century, the name Wilcher was particularly prevalent in the county of Gloucestershire. One notable figure from this region was John Wilcher (1745-1819), a wealthy landowner and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the local community, including the establishment of a school for underprivileged children.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wilcher

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

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

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

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