NameCensus.

UK surname

Burcher

An English surname referring to a butcher or meat seller.

In the 1881 census there were 243 people recorded with the Burcher surname, ranking it #11,294 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 214, ranked #18,740, down from #11,294 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Bedminster and Arundel. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stroud, Hertsmere and Blaenau Gwent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Burcher is 279 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 11.9%.

1881 census count

243

Ranked #11,294

Modern count

214

2016, ranked #18,740

Peak year

1911

279 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Burcher had 243 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,294 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 214 in 2016, ranked #18,740.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 279 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Burcher surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Burcher surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Burcher 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 249 #8,816
1861 historical 194 #12,310
1881 historical 243 #11,294
1891 historical 235 #13,316
1901 historical 224 #14,091
1911 historical 279 #12,018
1997 modern 228 #16,211
1998 modern 238 #16,218
1999 modern 247 #15,932
2000 modern 240 #16,186
2001 modern 228 #16,525
2002 modern 225 #16,994
2003 modern 235 #16,291
2004 modern 217 #17,276
2005 modern 212 #17,473
2006 modern 216 #17,397
2007 modern 216 #17,575
2008 modern 219 #17,597
2009 modern 223 #17,735
2010 modern 224 #18,047
2011 modern 211 #18,630
2012 modern 202 #19,084
2013 modern 208 #19,041
2014 modern 215 #18,764
2015 modern 209 #19,018
2016 modern 214 #18,740

Geography

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Where Burchers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Bedminster, Arundel, London parishes and Longhope. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stroud, Hertsmere, Blaenau Gwent, Liverpool and West Berkshire. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Bedminster Somerset
3 Arundel Sussex
4 London parishes London 3
5 Longhope Gloucestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stroud 003 Stroud
2 Hertsmere 005 Hertsmere
3 Blaenau Gwent 001 Blaenau Gwent
4 Liverpool 019 Liverpool
5 West Berkshire 013 West Berkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Burcher

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Burcher

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Burcher, 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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Burcher surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Burcher household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Burcher is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Burcher is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

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

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Burcher falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Burcher is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Burcher

The surname Burcher is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, deriving from the Old English words "burh" and "ciere," which together meant "town dweller" or "fort dweller." This name was likely first adopted by individuals who lived within the fortified walls of a town or borough, or near a defensive structure such as a castle or fort.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Burcher can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from the year 1221, where a person named Robert Burcher is mentioned. These rolls were financial records maintained by the English Exchequer during the reign of King Henry III.

In the 13th century, the Burcher surname appeared in various parts of England, including Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, and Wiltshire. Some early spellings of the name included Borcher, Borcher, and Burgher, reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling at the time.

The Burcher name is also associated with several place names in England, such as Burcher's Hill in Oxfordshire and Burcher's Green in Buckinghamshire. These locations may have been named after individuals bearing the Burcher surname who resided or owned land there.

Notable individuals with the surname Burcher include:

1. William Burcher (c. 1550 - c. 1610), an English lawyer and Member of Parliament for Shaftesbury during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. 2. John Burcher (1584 - 1649), an English clergyman who served as the Rector of Chipping Warden in Northamptonshire during the early 17th century. 3. Thomas Burcher (1635 - 1705), an English landowner and prominent figure in the county of Wiltshire, known for his involvement in local affairs and charitable works. 4. Richard Burcher (1670 - 1744), a wealthy merchant and alderman in the City of London during the early 18th century. 5. Samuel Burcher (1720 - 1801), an English architect who designed several notable buildings in Bath, including the Assembly Rooms and the Octagon Chapel.

While the Burcher surname has its roots in medieval England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and settlement, retaining its connection to the rich history and linguistic origins of its English heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Burcher families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Burcher 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. Sussex leads with 50 Burchers recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.46x.

County Total Index
Sussex 50 12.46x
Gloucestershire 46 9.85x
Worcestershire 21 6.76x
Somerset 19 4.96x
Lancashire 18 0.64x
Monmouthshire 18 10.46x
Hampshire 17 3.48x
Herefordshire 13 13.32x
Middlesex 10 0.42x
Yorkshire 9 0.38x
Surrey 6 0.52x
Berkshire 5 2.80x
Glamorgan 4 0.97x
Kent 2 0.25x
Devon 1 0.20x
Lanarkshire 1 0.13x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.31x
Royal Navy 1 3.53x
Staffordshire 1 0.12x
Warwickshire 1 0.17x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Arundel in Sussex leads with 13 Burchers recorded in 1881 and an index of 577.78x.

Place Total Index
Arundel 13 577.78x
West Derby 13 15.73x
Bedminster 11 30.56x
Brighton 10 12.35x
Longhope 10 1265.82x
Arlingham 8 1568.63x
Upton On Severn 8 392.16x
Blaisdon 7 4117.65x
Kidderminster Borough 7 38.48x
Newport 7 85.26x
Paddington London 7 8.00x
Abergavenny 6 93.17x
Camberwell 6 3.95x
Kidderminster Foreign 6 136.67x
Littlehampton 6 187.50x
Southampton St Mary 6 19.56x
Bootle Cum Linacre 5 22.29x
Brightside Bierlow 5 10.81x
Ford 5 6250.00x
Holmer 5 284.09x
New Windsor 5 83.19x
Avening 4 242.42x
Eglwysilan 4 55.63x
Preston 4 57.06x
Clapham 3 1578.95x
Darfield 3 139.53x
Fownhope 3 352.94x
Henfield 3 194.81x
Kingstone 3 833.33x
Newnham 3 250.00x
Odiham 3 140.19x
St Woollos 3 15.63x
Stogumber 3 297.03x
Westbury On Trym 3 18.98x
Basingstoke 2 35.65x
Bridgewater 2 19.23x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 2 4.55x
Charlton Kings 2 61.92x
Chelsea London 2 2.79x
East Quantoxhead 2 1052.63x
Grosmont 2 350.88x
Minster In Sheppey 2 14.87x
Slindon 2 487.80x
South Bersted 2 58.65x
Tewkesbury 2 47.96x
Warblington 2 103.63x
Westbury On Severn 2 108.11x
Widley 2 229.89x
Woolhope 2 327.87x
Aston 1 0.61x
Barony 1 0.51x
Bramshott 1 83.33x
Bristol St George 1 4.63x
Buxted 1 63.69x
Clifton 1 4.24x
Devonport 1 17.57x
Hatch Beauchamp 1 333.33x
Islington London 1 0.43x
Kingswinford 1 3.43x
Mansfield 1 9.01x
Middlesbrough 1 3.26x
Oving 1 73.53x
Quedgley 1 256.41x
Royal Navy 1 4.13x
Shanklin 1 68.97x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 23
Elizabeth 13
Sarah 8
Alice 5
Florence 5
Ann 4
Hannah 4
Lavinia 4
Charlotte 3
Edith 3
Eliza 3
Ellen 3
Kate 3
Rose 3
Susan 3
Annie 2
Clara 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Fanny 2
Harriet 2
Jane 2
Jesica 2
Johanna 2
Martha 2
Agnes 1
Anne 1
Blanche 1
Caroline 1
Comfort 1
Dinah 1
Gertrude 1
Harriett 1
Heptizebar 1
Janet 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Juliana 1
Lilly 1
Meley 1
Meta 1
Rachel 1
Rhoda 1
Selina 1
Thirza 1
U.R. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 15
George 10
John 9
Thomas 9
Harry 8
Charles 6
Henry 6
Arthur 5
James 5
Alfred 4
Albert 3
Daniel 3
Joseph 3
Edward 2
Edwin 2
Frank 2
Nicholas 2
Robert 2
Benjamin 1
Carey 1
Carles 1
Edmond 1
Edmund 1
Emanuel 1
Ernest 1
Frederick 1
Geo. 1
Henery 1
Herbert 1
Percival 1
Percy 1
Thos. 1
Thos.J. 1
W.E. 1
Walter 1
Wm.A. 1
Y.Y. 1

FAQ

Burcher surname: questions and answers

How common was the Burcher surname in 1881?

In 1881, 243 people were recorded with the Burcher surname. That placed it at #11,294 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Burcher surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 214 in 2016. That gives Burcher a modern rank of #18,740.

What does the Burcher surname mean?

An English surname referring to a butcher or meat seller.

What does the Burcher map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Burcher 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.