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

Witcher, 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 Witcher surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Witcher in America

Witcher is the 6437th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Witcher surname appeared 5,275 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 Witcher.

We can also compare 2010 data for Witcher 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 Witcher

The surname WITCHER has its origins in England, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "wicce," meaning "witch" or "sorcerer." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone involved in witchcraft or magical practices.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1176, which mention a Richard le Wiccher. The name also appears in the Curia Regis Rolls of Wiltshire from 1221, referring to a Reginald le Wyccher.

During the Middle Ages, the name was often spelled in various ways, such as Wyccher, Wychcher, and Wichcher, reflecting the regional dialects and variations in spellings at the time. Some early bearers of the name include John Wyccher, recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Cambridgeshire in 1273, and William Wyccher, mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327.

The name WITCHER may have also been associated with certain occupations or trades related to witchcraft or sorcery. In some regions, it could have been used to refer to individuals who practiced traditional folk magic or herbalism.

Notable historical figures bearing the surname include Sir John Witcher (1516-1585), an English landowner and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another prominent individual was William Witcher (1642-1720), a prominent Quaker minister and writer from Northamptonshire.

In the 17th century, the name can be found in various records, such as the Hearth Tax Rolls of Yorkshire from 1673, which list a Thomas Witcher. The Parish Registers of Gloucestershire from 1685 also mention a William Witcher.

By the 18th and 19th centuries, the surname had spread to other parts of England and Wales, as well as to North America through emigration. Some notable bearers of the name during this period include John Witcher (1771-1838), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy, and George Witcher (1804-1878), an English-born settler in Australia who became a prominent landowner and politician in Victoria.

Throughout its history, the surname WITCHER has maintained a strong association with its Old English roots and the concept of witchcraft or magical practices, although its meaning and connotations may have evolved over time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Witcher

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

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

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

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