NameCensus.

UK surname

Boutcher

A French surname derived from the word "boucher" meaning butcher or meat seller.

In the 1881 census there were 114 people recorded with the Boutcher surname, ranking it #18,324 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 79, ranked #33,100, down from #18,324 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Topsham, Exeter St David (including Castle Yard) and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Forest of Dean, Cheshire East and Greenwich.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Boutcher is 122 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 30.7%.

1881 census count

114

Ranked #18,324

Modern count

79

2016, ranked #33,100

Peak year

1911

122 bearers

Map years

4

1881 to 1911

Key insights

  • Boutcher had 114 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,324 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 79 in 2016, ranked #33,100.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 122 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Boutcher surname distribution map

The map shows where the Boutcher surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Boutcher surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Boutcher over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 85 #18,940
1861 historical 82 #23,321
1881 historical 114 #18,324
1891 historical 100 #24,045
1901 historical 121 #20,444
1911 historical 122 #20,245
1997 modern 94 #27,781
1998 modern 99 #27,785
1999 modern 100 #27,757
2000 modern 98 #27,988
2001 modern 90 #28,793
2002 modern 94 #28,797
2003 modern 93 #28,829
2004 modern 91 #29,345
2005 modern 79 #30,950
2006 modern 79 #31,263
2007 modern 78 #31,748
2008 modern 86 #31,114
2009 modern 91 #30,944
2010 modern 86 #32,081
2011 modern 93 #31,169
2012 modern 94 #31,258
2013 modern 89 #32,248
2014 modern 86 #32,663
2015 modern 82 #32,911
2016 modern 79 #33,100

Geography

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Where Boutchers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Topsham, Exeter St David (including Castle Yard), London parishes, Broad Clist and St Olave Southwark. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Forest of Dean, Cheshire East, Greenwich, Babergh and Croydon. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Topsham Devon
2 Exeter St David (including Castle Yard) Devon
3 London parishes London 3
4 Broad Clist Devon
5 St Olave Southwark London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Forest of Dean 001 Forest of Dean
2 Cheshire East 024 Cheshire East
3 Greenwich 022 Greenwich
4 Babergh 004 Babergh
5 Croydon 010 Croydon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Boutcher

These lists show first names that appear often with the Boutcher surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Boutcher

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Boutcher, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Boutcher surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Boutcher household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Boutcher is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Boutcher is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Boutcher falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Boutcher is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Boutcher, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Boutcher

The surname Boutcher originates from France, where it first emerged during the Middle Ages. The name is derived from the Old French word "boucher," meaning "butcher." This connection suggests that the earliest bearers of this surname were likely involved in the butchering trade or resided in an area associated with butchers.

The Boutcher surname can be traced back to various historical records, including the Domesday Book of 1086, which documented the first known instances of the name in England. It is believed that the Boutcher family first arrived in England during the Norman Conquest of 1066, when many French settlers accompanied William the Conqueror.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the Boutcher surname was Sir William Boutcher, a prominent landowner and knight who lived in Gloucestershire, England, in the 13th century. Another notable figure was John Boutcher, a wealthy merchant from Bristol, England, who was born in 1425 and played a significant role in the city's trade and commerce.

During the 16th century, the Boutcher family expanded their influence, with several members holding important positions in various communities. One such individual was Thomas Boutcher (1510-1585), who served as the Mayor of Exeter, England, in 1565. Another prominent figure was Richard Boutcher (1545-1618), a successful lawyer and judge who presided over several high-profile cases in London.

In the 17th century, the Boutcher surname gained further recognition with the birth of William Boutcher (1627-1692), a renowned English clergyman and author who wrote extensively on religious topics. His works contributed significantly to the intellectual discourse of the time.

Another notable individual was Sir John Boutcher (1680-1745), a British military officer who distinguished himself during the War of the Spanish Succession. He was knighted for his bravery and leadership on the battlefield.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Boutcher surname continued to spread across various regions, with several individuals making their mark in various fields. Among them was Thomas Boutcher (1765-1842), a prominent English architect who designed numerous churches and public buildings throughout the country.

It is worth noting that the Boutcher surname has also been recorded with variations in spelling over the centuries, such as Boucher, Butcher, and Bouchier. These variations often reflected regional dialects or scribal errors in historical records.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Boutcher families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Boutcher surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Devon leads with 24 Boutchers recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.37x.

County Total Index
Devon 24 10.37x
Middlesex 22 1.98x
Surrey 15 2.77x
Herefordshire 11 24.13x
Lancashire 7 0.53x
Somerset 7 3.91x
Essex 6 2.73x
Berkshire 5 5.99x
Gloucestershire 4 1.83x
Sussex 4 2.13x
Staffordshire 3 0.80x
Cheshire 2 0.81x
Hampshire 2 0.88x
Derbyshire 1 0.57x
Kent 1 0.26x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bermondsey in Surrey leads with 13 Boutchers recorded in 1881 and an index of 39.27x.

Place Total Index
Bermondsey 13 39.27x
Kensington London 13 21.03x
Exeter St David 8 404.04x
Bedminster 7 41.62x
Exeter Heavitree 7 404.62x
Hereford St Peter 7 573.77x
Wanstead 6 156.25x
New Windsor 5 177.94x
South Molton 5 393.70x
Toxteth Park 5 11.19x
Ledbury 4 254.78x
Wotton St Mary 4 353.98x
Bilston 3 41.27x
Hove 3 36.45x
Islington London 3 2.78x
Topsham 3 275.23x
Cheadle 2 42.64x
Richmond 2 26.35x
St Marylebone London 2 3.37x
West Derby 2 5.18x
Brighton 1 2.64x
Derby St Werburgh 1 9.95x
Exeter St Sidwell 1 18.87x
Grately 1 1000.00x
Hackney London 1 1.60x
Harrow On The Hill 1 45.05x
Horton Kirby 1 169.49x
Newport 1 80.65x
St Martin In Fields 1 15.02x
St Pancras London 1 1.12x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Boutcher surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 6
Elizabeth 5
Edith 3
Eliza 3
Sarah 3
Alice 2
Ann 2
Annie 2
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Florence 2
Ada 1
Anna 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Constance 1
Enid 1
Ethel 1
Fanny 1
Hariett 1
Hilda 1
Isabella 1
Jane 1
Lilian 1
Maria 1
Roseanna 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Boutcher surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

FAQ

Boutcher surname: questions and answers

How common was the Boutcher surname in 1881?

In 1881, 114 people were recorded with the Boutcher surname. That placed it at #18,324 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Boutcher surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 79 in 2016. That gives Boutcher a modern rank of #33,100.

What does the Boutcher surname mean?

A French surname derived from the word "boucher" meaning butcher or meat seller.

What does the Boutcher map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Boutcher bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.