UK surname
A surname indicating an occupation involving fishing or fishermen.
In the 1881 census there were 13 people recorded with the Ficher surname, ranking it #31,761 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 9, ranked #37,705, down from #31,761 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Hayton, St Dunstan Stepney and St George the Martyr. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ficher is 164 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 30.8%.
1881 census count
13
Ranked #31,761
Modern count
9
2016, ranked #37,705
Peak year
1861
164 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Ficher surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Ficher surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 15 | #30,614 |
| 1861 | historical | 164 | #14,188 |
| 1881 | historical | 13 | #31,761 |
| 1891 | historical | 66 | #28,541 |
| 1901 | historical | 19 | #31,911 |
| 1911 | historical | 21 | #31,179 |
| 1997 | modern | 9 | #37,214 |
| 1998 | modern | 8 | #37,334 |
| 1999 | modern | 9 | #37,217 |
| 2000 | modern | 6 | #37,624 |
| 2001 | modern | 6 | #37,456 |
| 2002 | modern | 4 | #37,921 |
| 2003 | modern | 5 | #37,750 |
| 2004 | modern | 6 | #37,655 |
| 2005 | modern | 5 | #37,885 |
| 2006 | modern | 4 | #38,130 |
| 2007 | modern | 3 | #38,372 |
| 2008 | modern | 4 | #38,216 |
| 2009 | modern | 3 | #38,494 |
| 2010 | modern | 6 | #38,024 |
| 2011 | modern | 5 | #38,168 |
| 2012 | modern | 8 | #37,740 |
| 2013 | modern | 8 | #37,767 |
| 2014 | modern | 9 | #37,679 |
| 2015 | modern | 10 | #37,563 |
| 2016 | modern | 9 | #37,705 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Hayton, St Dunstan Stepney, St George the Martyr, Ilfracombe and St Giles Camberwell. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hayton | Cumberland |
| 2 | St Dunstan Stepney | London (East Districts) |
| 3 | St George the Martyr | London (South Districts) |
| 4 | Ilfracombe | Devon |
| 5 | St Giles Camberwell | London (South Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Ficher surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Ficher, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Ficher surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Ficher household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Ficher is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ficher is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Ficher, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname FICHER is believed to have originated in Germany. It is thought to be derived from the German word "Fischer," which means "fisherman." This occupational surname would have been given to someone whose profession was catching fish, likely in a coastal or riverside area.
The earliest known record of the surname FICHER dates back to the 13th century. In 1284, a man named Conrad Ficher was documented in the town of Freiburg im Breisgau, located in the southwest region of Germany.
Another early reference to the name can be found in the Heidelberg Chancellery Records from the 14th century. These records mention a certain Peter Ficher, who was a merchant living in the city of Heidelberg during that time.
In the late 15th century, a notable figure with the surname FICHER was Johann Ficher, a German humanist and philosopher who lived from 1435 to 1503. He was a prominent scholar and taught at the University of Ingolstadt.
During the 16th century, the name FICHER appeared in various German chronicles and records. One example is Hans Ficher, a Protestant reformer and pastor who lived from 1510 to 1564 in the town of Schmalkalden.
Another individual of note was Kaspar Ficher, a German artist and engraver who was active in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He was known for his intricate copper engravings and woodcuts.
As the name spread throughout Germany and other parts of Europe, it underwent various spelling variations. Some of these include Ficher, Fischer, Vischer, and Visscher, among others. The name was also sometimes associated with certain place names, such as Fischerbach (meaning "fisherman's brook") or Fischerdorf (meaning "fisherman's village").
Overall, the surname FICHER has a rich history rooted in the occupation of fishing, dating back to the Middle Ages in Germany. While its spellings and variations evolved over time, the name has been carried by notable individuals throughout the centuries, ranging from scholars and reformers to artists and merchants.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ficher surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lincolnshire leads with 4 Fichers recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.73x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lincolnshire | 4 | 19.73x |
| Middlesex | 4 | 3.15x |
| Kent | 3 | 6.93x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 1.59x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Louth in Lincolnshire leads with 4 Fichers recorded in 1881 and an index of 869.57x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Louth | 4 | 869.57x |
| Mile End Old Town London | 3 | 111.11x |
| Aylesford | 2 | 1666.67x |
| Bradford | 2 | 65.79x |
| Chelsea London | 1 | 26.18x |
| Lee | 1 | 158.73x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Ficher surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Ficher surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Ficher households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 2 |
| Bakers Asst | 1 |
| Coachman | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Dyer Worsted | 1 |
| General Servant Domestic | 1 |
| Lab | 1 |
| Plate Layer | 1 |
| Sugar Baker | 1 |
| Tailoress | 1 |
| Worsted Spinner | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 13 people were recorded with the Ficher surname. That placed it at #31,761 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 9 in 2016. That gives Ficher a modern rank of #37,705.
A surname indicating an occupation involving fishing or fishermen.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Ficher bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.