NameCensus.

UK surname

Futcher

An archaic variant of the word "footsore", implying ancestors who traveled frequently or long distances.

In the 1881 census there were 353 people recorded with the Futcher surname, ranking it #8,708 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 603, ranked #8,687, up from #8,708 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Salisbury St Edmund, London parishes and West Tytherley, East Tytherley, West Dean, East and West Buckholt (incl. Crown Farm), Broughton, Bos. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Test Valley, Mendip and Wiltshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Futcher is 656 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 70.8%.

1881 census count

353

Ranked #8,708

Modern count

603

2016, ranked #8,687

Peak year

2002

656 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Futcher had 353 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,708 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 603 in 2016, ranked #8,687.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 566 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Futcher surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Futcher surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Futcher 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 201 #10,364
1861 historical 402 #6,383
1881 historical 353 #8,708
1891 historical 476 #7,720
1901 historical 486 #8,224
1911 historical 566 #7,137
1997 modern 634 #7,817
1998 modern 643 #7,969
1999 modern 647 #7,979
2000 modern 651 #7,929
2001 modern 631 #7,959
2002 modern 656 #7,890
2003 modern 638 #7,932
2004 modern 627 #8,061
2005 modern 610 #8,176
2006 modern 609 #8,193
2007 modern 622 #8,126
2008 modern 621 #8,194
2009 modern 643 #8,143
2010 modern 655 #8,190
2011 modern 639 #8,269
2012 modern 614 #8,453
2013 modern 617 #8,548
2014 modern 607 #8,721
2015 modern 604 #8,692
2016 modern 603 #8,687

Geography

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Where Futchers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Salisbury St Edmund, London parishes, West Tytherley, East Tytherley, West Dean, East and West Buckholt (incl. Crown Farm), Broughton, Bos, Portsmouth, Portsea and Wallop, Nether. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Test Valley, Mendip, Wiltshire, Portsmouth and Cheshire West and Chester. 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 Salisbury St Edmund Wiltshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 West Tytherley, East Tytherley, West Dean, East and West Buckholt (incl. Crown Farm), Broughton, Bos Hampshire
4 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
5 Wallop, Nether Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Test Valley 007 Test Valley
2 Mendip 010 Mendip
3 Wiltshire 049 Wiltshire
4 Portsmouth 001 Portsmouth
5 Cheshire West and Chester 034 Cheshire West and Chester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Futcher

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Futcher

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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, Futcher 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

Futcher is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Futcher falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Futcher is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Futcher

The surname "FUTCHER" is an English locational surname that originated in the county of Somerset, England. It is derived from the Old English words "fot" meaning "foot" and "cærr" meaning "turn" or "bend". The name likely referred to someone who lived near a bend or turn in a river or stream.

The earliest known recorded instance of the surname dates back to the late 13th century, where a William Fotachere is mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Somerset in 1278. The spelling of the name varied over time, with other early forms including Fotacher, Futcher, and Futtcher.

In the 16th century, the surname is found in various parish records across Somerset, such as the baptism of John Futcher in Spaxton in 1544 and the marriage of Richard Futcher and Johane Welles in Taunton in 1588.

One notable early bearer of the name was John Futcher (c. 1565-1633), a wealthy merchant and benefactor from Taunton, Somerset. He funded the construction of the Taunton Grammar School building in 1628 and left substantial bequests to the town in his will.

Another prominent individual was Sir Edward Futcher (1617-1679), an English lawyer and judge who served as the Recorder of Bristol from 1660 to 1679. He played a significant role in the trials following the Monmouth Rebellion of 1685.

In the 18th century, the Futcher family had established itself in various parts of England, including London and Kent. Thomas Futcher (1701-1781), a successful merchant in London, left a substantial estate upon his death.

During the 19th century, the surname spread to other parts of the British Isles and beyond, with bearers of the name found in Ireland, Australia, and North America. One notable figure was William Futcher (1815-1892), an English-born Australian businessman and politician who served as the Mayor of Melbourne from 1857 to 1858.

While the surname "FUTCHER" is not among the most common surnames in the world, it has a rich history rooted in the county of Somerset, England, and has been borne by notable individuals throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Futcher families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Futcher 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. Hampshire leads with 171 Futchers recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.09x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 171 24.09x
Wiltshire 81 26.45x
Middlesex 26 0.75x
Surrey 21 1.24x
Norfolk 14 2.63x
Dorset 13 5.72x
Sussex 8 1.37x
Somerset 6 1.08x
Kent 5 0.42x
Berkshire 3 1.15x
Devon 3 0.42x
Royal Navy 2 4.85x
Durham 1 0.10x
Suffolk 1 0.24x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Nether Wallop in Hampshire leads with 28 Futchers recorded in 1881 and an index of 2978.72x.

Place Total Index
Nether Wallop 28 2978.72x
Downton 23 573.57x
Lambeth 15 4.97x
Holdenhurst 14 75.19x
Fisherton Anger 13 229.28x
Colemore 11 9166.67x
Kings Somborne 11 738.26x
Overton 11 647.06x
Monxton 10 3125.00x
Wimborne St Giles 10 1851.85x
Broughton 9 841.12x
Salisbury St Edmund 8 162.60x
South Lopham 8 1250.00x
St Mary Extra 8 140.11x
Hackney London 7 3.61x
Warminster 7 104.32x
Westminster St James 7 19.66x
Andover 6 89.42x
Doulting 6 833.33x
Homington 6 2857.14x
Lavant Mid 6 1250.00x
Over Wallop 6 937.50x
Portsea 6 4.31x
Ryde 6 39.34x
West Dean 6 4285.71x
Clapham 5 11.55x
Great Yarmouth 5 11.34x
West Tytherley 5 1000.00x
North Savernake 4 3076.92x
Southampton St Mary 4 8.96x
St Thomas Winchester 4 79.84x
Titchfield 4 74.77x
Whitchurch 4 177.78x
Plaitford 3 1428.57x
Reading St Mary 3 14.41x
South Stoneham 3 19.48x
Alverstoke 2 7.79x
Fovant 2 303.03x
Goodworth Clatford 2 333.33x
Hawkhurst 2 54.50x
Islington London 2 0.60x
Lyndhurst 2 103.09x
No Mans Land 2 1250.00x
Royal Navy 2 5.67x
Salisbury St Martin 2 62.70x
St Faith Winchester 2 60.42x
St Pancras London 2 0.72x
Stockbridge 2 194.17x
Teddington London 2 25.48x
Tiverton 2 16.10x
Winterbourne Earls 2 689.66x
Ashley 1 625.00x
Beddington 1 15.31x
Bethnal Green London 1 0.66x
Britford 1 49.51x
Buckland In The Moor 1 1250.00x
Carisbrooke 1 10.15x
Chichester St Andrew 1 163.93x
Fulham London 1 1.99x
Gillingham 1 4.11x
Hale 1 555.56x
Hammoon 1 1111.11x
Hastings Holy Trinity 1 23.26x
Hornsey 1 2.28x
Hurstbourne Tarrant 1 101.01x
Kensington London 1 0.52x
Longstock 1 192.31x
Millbrook 1 5.59x
Minster In Sheppey 1 5.11x
Newmarket St Mary 1 30.86x
Paddington London 1 0.79x
Penton Grafton 1 181.82x
Portland 1 8.18x
Romsey Infra 1 41.49x
Salisbury St Thomas 1 41.15x
Southampton All Sts 1 8.21x
St George Hanover Square 1 1.64x
St Helens 1 19.38x
Sturminster 1 45.45x
Upper Clatford 1 113.64x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 20
Mary 17
Fanny 9
Jane 9
Sarah 9
Alice 8
Eliza 7
Annie 6
Ada 5
Ann 5
Ellen 5
Emily 5
Emma 4
Agnes 3
Florence 3
Hannah 3
Harriet 3
Louisa 3
Maria 3
Amelia 2
Edith 2
Julia 2
Kate 2
Matilda 2
Susan 2
Susanna 2
Tryphena 2
Anna 1
Charlotte 1
Diana 1
Dionysia 1
Dorothy 1
E. 1
Emely 1
Eva 1
Faney 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
Hanah 1
Harrett 1
Isabella 1
Janet 1
Jemima 1
Kitty 1
Lilly 1
Lucy 1
Lydia 1
Mabel 1
Margaret 1
Maud 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Charles 19
William 19
George 18
James 11
John 10
Thomas 10
Alfred 7
Frank 7
Henry 7
Frederick 5
Walter 5
Albert 4
Edward 4
Joseph 3
Sidney 3
Augustus 2
Fred 2
Jacob 2
Robert 2
Robt. 2
Samuel 2
Stephen 2
Allen 1
Barnet 1
Cantilo 1
Chas. 1
Cornelius 1
David 1
Edmund 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
F. 1
F.T.W. 1
Francis 1
Friday 1
Gilbert 1
H. 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Isaac 1
Isaiah 1
Leonard 1
Mark 1
Moses 1
Richard 1
Stuart 1
Sydney 1
Willie 1
Wilson 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Futcher surname: questions and answers

How common was the Futcher surname in 1881?

In 1881, 353 people were recorded with the Futcher surname. That placed it at #8,708 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Futcher surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 603 in 2016. That gives Futcher a modern rank of #8,687.

What does the Futcher surname mean?

An archaic variant of the word "footsore", implying ancestors who traveled frequently or long distances.

What does the Futcher map show?

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